African Roar 2011 (A review)

by Zeblon Nsingo

   The second in a series of yearly   publications of African Stories, African Roar 2011 is an anthology of short stories by African writers, which have been selected from the best of the Story Time literary magazine, and then further edited by Emmanuel Sigauke and Ivor Hartmann.

While African Roar 2011 does not attempt to be an absolute mirror of Africa, it gives an insight into the African way of life. The opening tribute to Ruzvidzo Stanley Mupfudza by Memory Chirere and ‘A Writer’s lot’ by Zukiswa Wanner take us into the hearts of the writers themselves as we follow their adventures, or misfortunes thereof. The narrator in Wanner’s tale struggles to cope with his new found fame after publication of his book. In addition to international journalists who set up interviews so they can sell a story of who they think he is, he has to contend with women who suddenly go after him, feigning interest in his work.

Witchcraft is a part of African life, perceived or real. ‘A witch’s Brew’ by Ruzvidzo Stanley Mupfudza highlights how hard it is to live with someone who has been labeled a witch. Will the innocence of childhood break the stigma? Emmanuel Sigauke’s ‘Snakes Will Follow You’ tells the story of a young man whose education and future is threatened by witches, as proclaimed by a village Prophet. Will the witches succeed in their ploy to bring him down?

What happens in our houses when the lights go off? Find out in Ivor Hartmann’s ‘Diner Ten’. Radic and his kin eke out a living in and around man’s habitat. Danger lurks. Radic and his kin have to escape the deadly means employed by man to get rid of them. Survival is of the utmost importance in this tale.

In ‘Longing For Home’ by Hajira Amla, Grace Chirima tries to pursue an education in England but it’s not easy since the rest of her family is languishing in Zimbabwe. Her grandfather suffers a stroke and with that goes her tuition fees. Will she continue with her education or go back home to be with her family? This story encompasses the challenges faced by people in their pursuit of a better life.

Modern life, its scandals and hypocrisy; African Roar 2011 covers all this in a number of entertaining stories which highlight African controversies. ‘The Times’ by Dango Mkandawire seeks to show how influential people will go to great length to hide their mischief, but the press gives them hell as it seeks to expose them. In ‘Snake of the Niger Delta’ by Chimdindu Mazi–Njoku, the atrocities caused by mismanagement of ministries are brought to the spotlight. A young man loses his parents in a car accident caused by bad roads in Nigeria. Later on he gets back at the corrupt ministry by getting Tunde arrested for faking documents for a road maintenance contract.

‘Chanting Shadows’ by Mbonisi P Ncube shows the impact of intolerance. Ncube’s story is an in-depth look at the subject of ethnic and political divisions, and how people’s different opinions can lead to violence.

There is yet another look at the traumatic experiences of African women in ‘Silent Night, Bloody Night’ by Ayodele Morocco Clarke. A gang of armed men terrorise Osadolor and his family at night. His daughter, the narrator, is humiliated as she is given to one of the gang to do as he pleases. Does she have to suffer for whatever misunderstanding her father has with these men?

While this Anthology brings together diverse writing skills, perhaps the most vivid descriptions are found in ‘Main’, a story by NoViolet Bulawayo the 2011 Caine Prize winner. Here the street comes alive and events unfold in a breathtaking realty which is almost tangible.

The hardships of life can be comical sometimes. The last story, ‘Water Wahala’ by Isaac Neeaquaye is a humorous look at the water crisis in Adentan Housing Bottom neighborhood in Ghana. This situation is now commonplace in most African environs.

Overall, African Roar 2011 makes a good read, whether you are reading for pleasure or for literal purposes. Grab your copy now!

First release now available in eBook format at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005TBUFA0

Are you really Leaving?

Somewhere along our short life together there was communication breakdown.

Somewhere along you decided not to confide in me.

Somewhere along the gap widened

Further and further

What happened to all the plans?

Remember?

I made them all on day one

Wrote them down

I was to follow through to the last month.

2011?

Now I can see you fading away

Before we resolve anything

You’re joking right?

All 365 days of you spent?

A lot of lessons you taught me

Some sank in others I’m still trying to grasp

Not for any particular reason

I guess it’s just another season

I await your successor

Longing

Hoping it will be better

 

©  Zeblon Nsingo

December 2011

“African Roar” – A Review by Zeblon Nsingo

 

  African Roar is a unique collection of African stories. This anthology tackles a lot of issues which people hardly talk about. Selected from the Story Time e-zine, the works are from both established and budding writers.

The first story, Big Pieces,Little Pieces by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma , immediately breaks the silence on domestic violence. The protagonist, an unnamed child, pieces together various incidents in her life which later turned out to be tragic.

But then, Kola Tubosun quickly shows us that solutions can just be a door away. In his story Behind the Door, a young man takes a life altering decision when he goes for an HIV test. Myths and facts are fused as the young man waits to know his status. You just have to read on to find out what happens to his fear and confusion as the moment of truth descends on him.

Memories of war are triggered as Stanley meets an ex Rhodesian soldier in Masimba Musodza’s story, Yesterday’s Dog. Stanley desperately needs to take revenge on this now defenceless soldier. He soon hatches the perfect plan as the enemy boards his car.

The Nestbury Tree is a nice fusion of Christianity and tradition. Do witches really exist, and if so, would they dare enter a church compound? Do belief and prayer give us what we want .Find out in this gripping story by Ayodele Morocco-Clarke.

Beaven Tapureta’s Cost Of Courage takes us through the struggles of jobless Kenny and his friend – brother, a poet - as they strive on their companionship in a ghetto of Harare.

Memories of a past love in Ivor W. Hartmann’s Lost Love are delivered to us by an aging man on his deathbed. The point of view makes one realize just how some memories will only be memories and need to be celebrated as such since age cannot be undone.

Memories can be very bitter too as experienced by Jemusi in Christopher Mlalazi’s A Cicada In The Shimmer. His innocence is violated in a game of hide and seek and these memories haunt him, coupled with the superstitious beliefs of MaDube.

African stories would be incomplete without mention of greed and self-aggrandizement. Chuma Nwokolo’s QuarterBack & Co tackles the issue of company politics, the need for more money, though I felt the story just ended abruptly somehow. This I attribute to the voice of the narrator who seems to be having some mental problems due to a poisonous insect sting earlier on.

Expectations are high in Emmanuel Sigauke’s A Return To The Moonlight as Ranga returns from the Diaspora with his new bride. The narrator, his sister, is quick to point out that “We were not greedy or anything, but it was high time people saw that my brother had spent many years overseas for a good reason.”

We get a taste of University life and betrayal in Nana A. Damoah’s Truth Floats. The escapades of two contrasting characters, Kweku and Akoto, who are roommates at the University College of Amenfi make an interesting tale.

The last story, Tamale Blues by Ayesha H. Attah reminds us that we don’t always get what we want in life, but that can be the best for us. Nana’s visit to Tamale is not something she looks forward to but when she gets there she meets the pleasant Rafik and gets comfortable.Maybe too comfortable according to her grandmother and other people in the compound.

Watch out for African Roar, published by Lion Press Ltd. The book will be out soon and these stories will leave you asking for more.

Blocked Minds

A day passes , then a week and soon it’s a month since you last wrote anything and you feel rotten. Not a drop of ink on your writing pad. You drag yourself to your writing desk but nothing moves from your head onto that blank piece of paper. You chew the barrel of the pen off ( or hammer the keyboard ) but no ideas come out of it.

There is only one dreadful conclusion , you think . “I’m not a writer. I’ll never write in my life.” And the thought shoots you right on the forehead. Bang. You’re literally dead. No more artistic work from you.

You’ve heard it labeled writer’s block. It’s a phase in a writer’s life where ideas just vanish. Due to hectic schedules at work or school , you simply cannot focus on the writing task facing you.The mind wanders a lot.

The best advice I’ve heard from professional writers – people who sucessfully changed blank pieces of paper into novels and short stories , poetry or plays – is to go out and spend time with people who share your passion. People who can comment on your work. Even if you’re alcoholic , hang out with people who can say ‘…Your story reminds me of the time I slept in a chicken run after having one too many,' or , ‘…. this poem refreshes like a cold beer…...’ Anything to get you thinking : What if you had written it in another way? What if this idea involved two characters? What if…..? Just to keep your mind on the go.