The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
Zimbabwean academic and author, Professor Robert Muponde, has flown the Zimbabwean flag high in literature after his book made it into the 50 Notable Books in Africa for 2021.
His book, ‘The Scandalous Times of a Book Louse’ published by Penguin Random House, is the story of Professor Muponde’s life experiences during his childhood and schooling years in his native home of Rusape, Zimbabwe.
The book made it on the list for “having an impact on the lives of people.”
Professor Muponde is a lecturer in the department of literary studies, at the Witwatersrand University in South Africa.
The book was selected by Brittle Paper on Thursday as one of the 50 Notable African Books by African writers.
Launched in 2018, the 50 Notable African Books of the Year list is a curated collection of the most impactful African books in a given year.
This year, the list continues the tradition of offering something for everyone: speculative fiction, poetry, queer writing, memoirs, political thrillers, as well as books from 20 African countries, including, for the first time, Mauritania and the Central African Republic.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail, Professor Muponde said he was excited that his work has been selected among the best works of literature in Africa.
“It gives every sense of merry-making. On receiving the news I was excited and resorted to some few bottles of wine,” he said.
The academic is a veteran in the field of literature, dating back three decades.
He says he is inspired by the late prolific writer and orator, Dambudzo Marechera who also hailed from Rusape.
Marechera died in 1987.
