HARARE As part of the promotion and preservation of the Ndau and manyika culture, renowned writer and publisher, Ishmael Penyai, has published a poetry book in the local dialects entitled "Nhekwe Dzirikanyi". (Pictured: Renowned writer and publisher, Ishmel Penyai)
The 156 page book sponsored by the International Institute for Development Facilitation Trust (IIDF) will be launched next month in Chimanimani. “For a very long time there has been a huge gap between the so called standard Shona and other vernacular languages such as Ndau, Manyika, Kalanga and Tonga. Works of literature in these vernacular languages have suffered from insufficient publicity and criticism” said Penyai.
The author argued that people who speak less publicized indigenous languages such as Kalanga and Ndau are victims of an inconsiderate society and environment. “There is need to promote all indigenous languages in this country. There is nothing called standard Shona because Shona is like a river which is made up of many tributaries. As a writer of Ndau origin I am really worried about the cold shoulder which these languages are being given by publishers and book reviewers,” said Penyai.
Award winning and prolific writer, Musaemura Zimunya described Penyai’s poetry collection as a discovery of words, accents, tones and nuggets of ethnic expression currently alienated by the Shona Language Committee’s obsession with the so-called “Standard Shona”.
“We experience the beauty of poetry in words we thought were dead and realize that we owe it to ourselves as a nation to keep, protect and revive the great gift of language inherited from our forefathers, all across the length and breadth of Zimbabwe. The nation owes Penyai credit for reminding us that Ndau is not just a dialect but that it is capable of exciting the imagination through creative art, poetry song and folk tales. It is capable of depicting courtship and romance, celebration and laughter, death and misery .The same goes for those other marginalised ethnic dialects such as Kore Kore, Venda, Chiduma and Kalanga,” said Zimunya.
Penyai said he has already received overwhelming orders of his book from clients mostly in the diaspora. Penyai, who is a founder member of the Manicaland Writers Association (MWA) and a member of the Zimbabwe Writers Union, has also written an anthology of English poetry entitled “Scarlet Memories” which was edited by Joshua Maphosa. He has also written several childrens books. Penyai said his dream was to see his books being incorporated into the school curriculum.
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