BOOKS: Chenjerai Hove through Mungoshi’s eyes

19 Jul, 2015 - 00:07 0 Views
BOOKS: Chenjerai Hove through Mungoshi’s eyes The late Chenjerai Hove

The Sunday Mail

The late Chenjerai Hove

The late Chenjerai Hove

AS the nation mourned Freedom Nyamubaya’s death, more bad news followed as yet another literary giant fell. Last Sunday we were robbed of award-winning author Chenjerai Hove due to liver failure in Norway.

Regarded as one of the finest writers to ever pick up the pen in Zimbabwe, he had written and co-authored numerous books including “Bones”, “Blind Moon”, “Shabeen Tales”, “Shadows” and “Ancestors”, to mention a few.

His 1988 book “Bones” is regarded as his greatest piece of literature as it won a Zimbabwe Literary Award and a Noma Award for Publishing in Africa.

“Bones” is a poetic novel about the guerrilla fight for freedom in Zimbabwe, with all the action captured in interior monologues, some by specific characters, others by representatives of certain types produced by colonial history, or by spirits.

Hove artistically and richly captured the relationships between the masses and freedom fighters.

Although, I never had the opportunity to meet the man in person, his works speak volumes about how talented he was and with his unique story telling abilities he set the bar high for other writers.

It is sad, however, that such a great writer had to spend his last days thousands of miles away from home.

Last week I managed to have a small chat with David Mungoshi, a prolific writer who owes his success to Hove.

Mungoshi gave his views on the deceased’s work and personality who he described as a joy to work with and an encouragement to his budding literary works..

“There is no doubt that Chenjerai Hove was one of the foremost writers in the country considering how he is recognised locally, regionally and internationally.

“The awards he received for ‘Bones’ are a testimony to his unique and great way of writingquality of writing,” said Mungoshi.

“His writing was crisp and if you read some of his work you will notice that he had the ability to detail subjects in a simple, yet exquisite manner.

“Most of Hove’s books had one word titles.

“I remember him jokingly saying that I must keep it short and straight to the point citing it as the reason why he used single words as a book titles.”

Hove was not only good at prose, but was also a fine poet, penning verses that Mungoshi said were “on another level”.

“You could easily notice the man’s sense of humour in his poetry which would always pervade even under tragic scenarios.”

Away from writing, Mungoshi said Hove was a simple and jovial individual who was easy to get along with others.

“He was a great pool player and despite the fact that I couldn’t play, he used to invite me to watch him chew people up on the pool table.

“Every time he won a game he would say that it was as easy as having breakfast, that was the character of the great man, he shall definitely be missed.”

Hove was the one who saw the potential in Mungoshi when everyone else did not believe in him as a writer, which is the reason why he has great respect for the man.

“Chenjerai Hove was the first person who recognised me as a writer and gave me a chance when most editors were turning me down because they felt that I was copying my brother (Charles Mungoshi).”

At the time of his death, Hove was working on a poetry anthology, which hopefully will be made available on the market posthumously.

May his soul rest in eternal peace and he shall be remembered.

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