Carl Joshua Ncube takes piracy fight to the streets
Zimbabwean animator and graphics artist Carl Joshua Ncube will from this afternoon live on Harare’s First Street for a week to raise awareness of the seriousness of piracy and to convince Zimbabweans to buy original products to support the artists.
Amelia’s Inheritance
Filed under: Books & literature, Entertainment, Arts & Culture, News you won't find elsewhere, Other Entertainment, Topical issues
Amelia
Paperback 204pp, Lion Press, 2010
Zimbabweans are picky readers and even pickier book-buyers. Who can blame us, considering that a considerable portion of the literature that has been churned out over the last two decades has been about the Chimurenga or the more recent political conflict? In a country where professionals earn $100 a month, who really wants to spend $10 on a book about how bad Rhodesia was or how repressive the present regime is? We know all that already.
How refreshing then to come across Sarudzayi Mubvakure’s second and latest literary offering, Amelia’s Inheritance! Set mostly in Ian Smith’s Rhodesia, this is the story of Amelia Gruber, the daughter of a German immigrant man and a mixed-race woman of unknown parentage, who had been raised as an orphan. As a child, her peers mark her as an outcast, and perhaps this pushes her from the psychological and social fortress the White settlers built around themselves and allows her a glimpse of the rest of the world. Her father loses his wealth and dies a broken man, leaving the family to cope as best as they can as one of Rhodesia’s best kept secrets; the Poor Whites. Amelia’s mother loses her mind, and her younger sister elopes leaving Amelia to hold on to precious little else. Sisi, their maid, stays with her.
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Speaking of secrets, boy are there plenty! The people she meets along the way seem to know a lot more about her past than they should, and it seems less and less a coincidence that they have come in to her life. Amelia is also learning about the wider world, she is crossing the racial and social barriers of Rhodesia. She makes friends with a Black activist. Through their relationship, we are reminded of a fact that doesn’t seem to get mention by other writers; that the dispossession of indigenous Black people’s lands by White Settlers did not end with the Pioneer Column but continued well in to the last days of that ignoble racist political system. Like I noted, Mubvakure doesn’t take up too much prose telling us what we know already. In a suspense-filled, pacy narrative, Amelia becomes part of the process to break down those barriers and the secrets of her past become unlocked in a stunning conclusion.
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Mubvakure has marked her own territory on the Zimbabwean literary landscape. Amelia’s Inheritance reminds me of Dickens’ Great Expectations, Oliver Twist etc in that she has a hero whose circumstances are set to change as the mystery of their past unfolds. However, despite her many shortcomings, the most glaring being her poverty and the breakdown of her family, Amelia is hardly a passive subject to the whims of fate. And there may be a bit of Catherine Cookson in the style, too. But Mubvakure’s style is original and establishes her as one of the most exciting new authors on the scene.
Available through Lion Press Ltd’s website and their growing list of distributors worldwide, and the major online bookstores.
Eight hours of music, dance, and more to commemorate International Women’s Day
Its been 99 years since the first International Women’s Day was held in 1911 and this year, with the global United Nations theme: Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All, the world once again celebrates with thousands of events being held globally to inspire women and celebrate their economic, political and social achievements past, present and future. On the 8th March, a global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world, ranging from political rallies, business conferences, and government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatrical performances, fashion parades and more. Read more
NAMA 2010 Winners Announced
Dominic Benhura receives the Arts Service Award on behalf of Tengenenge Sculture Community. Handing him the award is Oliver Mtukudzi while Bridget Gwangwava looks on.
Over thirty artists and groups from around Zimbabwe were last night presented with awards for excelling in various disciplines in the arts. The 9th Edition of the National Arts Merit Awards held at the 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale saw Dominic Benhura, Natalie Bradbury, Josphat Somanje and Hazvinei Sakarombe leading the pack among the award winners.
Amendment of NACZ 1985 Act and what it means for the creative industries
Elvas Mari
Notes from a presentation by Mr Elvas Mari, Director of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
Arts & Culture Indaba 2010, Harare, 18 February 2010
Since 1985 the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) has had District Arts Councils and board members appointed by the minister country wide. However since 1998 these structures have not been functional due to the lack of funding to sustain them. At both these levels, there were no administrative staff but rather volunteers, which is an ineffectual way of running a serious administration. The national board was made up of reps from the provinces and some outside the province. The Government could not afford allowances for all these district and provincial members so from 1999 when the first 9 member board was appointed, it did not reflect what was in the Act.
In terms of changes, there has been a suggestion to cut the number of board members from 20 to 11 in which 9 should come from area of expertise, e.g. tourism, legal and the artists and those who have helped in the development of Arts. The director of NACZ is not an ex-officio board member but in practice he makes decisions. Read more
Notes from Senator David Coltart’s keynote address [Arts & Culture Indaba 2010]
David Coltart
Minister of Education, Sports, Arts & Culture, Senator David Coltart, gave the keyonote address at the opening of the Arts & Culture Indaba in Harare this morning.
The Indaba gives a platform to exchange and improve ideas. Indaba came at a time when the government has just established the Arts and Culture Department. We would like to make sure Arts and Culture is not drowned in Education. We need to build a national consensus for culture and national policy which will reflect a multi faceted culture of Zim. Ministry assists parastatals to be able to stand on their own. Income raised must include payment for contributors so that artists see the benefit of their efforts. Read more
Arts Indaba Opens in Harare
Leading arts figures from around Zimbabwe have gathered for an arts & culture indaba in Harare. The indaba, organised by the British Council, the Culture Fund, UNESCO and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe began with a keynote speech by Senator David Coltart, Minister of Education, Sport, Arts & Culture.
The 2010 Queen is Samantha Tshuma
Samantha Tshuma waves at the crowd after being announced the winner of Miss Tourism Zimbabwe 2010
They call it the City of Kings and Queens. It is the home of this year’s Miss Tourism Zimbabwe queen- Bulawayo. Her name, Samantha Tshuma.
The tall beauty won the hearts of the packed HICC at the pageant held on Saturday, February 6th 2010.
Read more about the crowning of Samantha
Who is the Face of Africa 2010 Winner?
Lukundo Nalungwe
Zambian model Lukundo Nalungwe has won the M-Net Face of Africa 2010 model search.
The new Zimbo Jam Facebook page
It’s up! Now it’s much easier than ever before to keep up to date with what’s happening on Zimbabwe’s leading showbiz, lifestyle and culture website!
Become a fan!
On The Zimbo Jam- Book on Torture in Zimbabwe LaunchedThe Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition yesterday launched a book chronicling torture in Zimbabwe over the last few years at a function attended by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, members of civic society and the diplomatic corps.
- Harare Man to Live on the Street for the Love of MusicKeep the music playing. Piracy kills the artist, kills the music, kills the industry. That is the simple message that Harare animator, producer and creative spirit, Carl Joshua Ncube hopes to send out when he moves from his house to live out on Harare's First Street, starting this afternoon.
- Congo Fever in Harare with DJ Ben MontrésorThe dance floor is open at The Mannenberg on Friday 12 March, when the popular Harare venue opens its doors for its first-ever west-African dance-off, Congo Fever!’ featuring French DJ Ben Montrésor, hot off Jozi turntables, back-to-back with one of the most popular rhumba outfits in Zimbabwe today – The Real Sounds.
- Book on Torture in Zimbabwe Launched