OUR BULAWAYO SCRIBES AND THESPIANS!
- 17/9/2013 <--Prev : Next-->
Goodness me, this Bulawayo Literary and theatrical Community of ours is incredible. This week alone, amongst many amazing community projects, has seen the award of a Booker Prize to NoViolet Bulawayo.
NoViolet Bulawayo is the pen name of Elizabeth Zandile Tshelea, a Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford, one of the six writers whose work was shortlisted for Britain's prestigious Man Booker Prize for Fiction.
Bulawayo's debut novel tells of a 10-year-old girl's journey from Zimbabwe to the United States. The author was born and raised in Zimbabwe and earned her MFA at Cornell University. In this book Bulawayo weaves together the novel 'with a rare and welcome economy. The prose is spare and stirring, and the worldview global in scope.'
We also have another budding Bulawayo author - Susan Hubert whose delightful first book "Sabi Star" is scheduled for launch this week.
Theatrically-wise we watched a delightful adaptation of Winnie The Pooh at Girls' College with some admirable singing, dancing and acting, and we also feasted on the Ray Clooney comedy 'Out of Order' at the Bulawayo Theatre.
Produced by very our own Bulawayan John Cleese aka Anthony Lubbe, we spent the evening literally in 'stiches'. An excellent slick production with some brilliant acting.
On Wednesday we saw a festive crowd at the launch of the 2014 Matopos Calendar, a magnificent full colour 12 page calendar with brilliant photos of the Matopos by Andre F. Van Rooyen and featuring some glorious poetry by award-winning poet, short story writer and novelist - John Eppel.
The launch was accompanied by an auction of the original photos on canvas in aid of the Matobo Rhino Initiative Trust. This initiative is raising awareness and driving the campaign for the protection of the Matobo Rhino. The National Parks has given the Trust permission to build a fence around the Matopos and already 14 Km of fencing has been erected. There are already signs that the Rhino are staying inside their parameters instead of roaming away from their armed security patrols.
How sad that life insists that these wondrous creatures need to graze in the presence of armed guards.
How sad that these antediluvian beasts need to be fenced in for their own protection?
What has happened to our society?
But, needs must, and the initiative needs your support!!
Donate - fundraise - spread the word - get involved !
Contact for more details:
Paul Hubbard, Project Manager - hubcapzw@gmail.com
John Burton - Trustee - farmhouse.matopos@gmail.com
For copies of the Matopos calendar e mail Violette Kee-Tui violettezim@gmail.com
