The Sunday Mail
Andrew Moyo Beyond The Cover —
“I revived my passion for writing in 2012 when I started working on what would have been my debut novel.”
IT is not easy for many upcoming writers to get their books published, especially in this current literary climate where most publishers are opting to publish non-fiction texts.
This has not stopped Chimanimani-based writer Penjeni Madzikangava from releasing not one, but two novels in two months. After publishing his debut “Tears and Scars” in June, the writer struck again with the sequel “Dungeon of Despair” in July.
After reading his two books, I decided to have a chat with the author, just to find out more about his work and future plans. Born in Mt Darwin, the 41-year-old writer said he developed a passion for writing while he was still in primary school.
Although he did not begin writing anything concrete during all his years in school, he decided to give it a shot in 2012, only to have his hopes go up in flames after his laptop crushed with his work on it.
“I revived my passion for writing in 2012 when I started working on what would have been my debut novel — ‘Tears of Migration’, but unfortunately the manuscript could not see the light of day after my laptop crushed,” said Madzikangava.
“In 2015, following encouragement from my colleagues. I decided to approach a representative of College Press in Mutare and he encouraged me to start working on my manuscript.”
By December last year, the writer had completed the manuscripts for two novels, which he went on to release this year. While I was reading his novels, I discovered that his themes explore the different struggles that many people have to deal with in life.
“I usually write about the struggles that people encounter while trying to free themselves from poverty, failed marriages, sexual and physical abuse, among other things.
“I believe that stories with a ghetto flare appeal to people from different backgrounds, including those who might not be familiar with the lifestyle as they also have relatives and friends who stay in the ghetto.”
Madzikangava’s novels also dwell on the hardships that many Zimbabweans living in foreign countries encounter, including the issues of xenophobia and unfair treatment.
He said while he looks at many aspects of Zimbabwean society, the point he is always trying to drive home is that of patriotism.
“The main theme of the two titles hinges on patriotism because I have realised that no matter how poor our country is performing on the economic front and how we might disagree on certain views, the country remains ours and nothing can change that.”
The writer is already working on another novel “Echoes from the Ghetto”, and poetry anthologies with various authors. Madzikangava has not limited his writing abilities to books alone as he has also ventured into music.
He released his first album “Nyenyedzi Yerwendo” earlier this year with songs from the project already getting airplay on Diamond FM. While I found his style a bit odd, I will still give the writer props for creating storylines that touch on so many things that most people can relate to.
