NEW: Poetry anthology brings together Zimbabwe’s leading poets

Online Reporter

“Shamhu Ine Munyu”, a poetry anthology, is one of those books that readers cannot put down once they start reading.

Some of the country’s most experienced and versatile poets, among them Fabian “Poet of the People” Choto and Biggie Chiranga, contributed to this anthology.

The anthology tackles various social themes, among them love and family relations.

Three well-crafted poems support the anthology’s title, which was drawn from Fibion Joel Nyambare’s poem of the same title.

Chakanetsa Ruzvidzo’s “Shamhu Gumi,” and Choto’s “Shamhu Inorapa Zvomene,” also support the anthology’s unusual title.

The three poems are all centred on the whip (shamhu), describing how a whip can be used to effectively deal with those that misbehave.

In Choto’s poem, which was written in a satirical way, the writer warns a misbehaving brother that the full wrath of the whip will be unleashed on him.

“Mukoma mune musarinya

Munorivara zvenyu

Muchipinda nemwenje mudziva

Honai mune marambadoro

Cherechedzai kuita kwenyu

Mune chikupabhawa

Aiwaka dai muri mumwe madzikama

 

Munotoda shamhu ndazviona,

Munoda shamhu ine munyu,

Shamu inorapa zvomene,

Shamhu kumusana, shamhu padumbu

Kurova kwekushwapura

Kurangwa kwemunhu mukuru

In “Huyai Tikombe Churu,” Choto, preaches unity, while in “Kana Shiri Yabvuta Ndandi,” he cleverly uses street lingo to try and capture the imagination of young readers.

In the poem, he uses such common phrases as “kudirwa jecha,” which is mostly popular with young people.

This was a deliberate effort to lure young people to develop an active interest in Shona poetry.

Chiranga, who compiled the anthology, also contributed exciting poems.

In “Parufu Rwangu,” the author talks about his death and how the funeral should be handled.

“Musi wandichagonya,

Musi wandichafuga rangu ndega,

Musi wandichadya nyemba,

Musaridze mhere yetsuri,

Shingirirai patsuri iyi,

Itai hokeri yaananyanduri.

Chirere agovapo,

Mabasa agovapo,

Chirikure agovapo,

Vese ava vagondidetembera,

Vanditunhe nedzavo nduri

Vitalis Mukondiwa’s “Dai Hudiki Hwaidzokerwa” is an interesting nostalgic poem in which the poet longs for the past.

Most readers will surely relate to this poem.

Among some of the contributors to the anthology are Fidelis Tinotenda Makunike, Manager Horeka and Langton Mukucha.

“Shamhu Ine Munyu,” was written in simple Shona, and is pregnant with thought-provoking poems.