Zimbabwe in Fiction and PoetryZimbabwe: Prose and Poetry by Solomon MutswairoReview by: Henry V. MoyanaAfrica Today, Vol. 23, No. 3, Southern Africa and U.S. Foreign Policy (Jul. - Sep., 1976), pp.85-86Published by: Indiana University PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4185624 .

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Zimbabwe in Fiction and Poetry

Henry V. Moyana

Solomon Mutswairo. ZIMBABWE: Prose and Poetry (Washington, D.C., Three Continents Press, 1974), 276 pages, $16.00 (case edition), $9.00 (paperback).

The book Zimbabwe consists of the English version of Solomon Mutswairo's famous Shona novel Feso and an anthology of poetry appearing in both Shona and English. The translations of both the novel Feso, and the poetry have been done by Mr. Mutswairo himself and by Mr. D. E. Herdeck who has spent quite some time in Rhodesia where he mastered the Shona language.

In his novel Feso, Mr. Mutswairo portrays African life and customs and the functioning of its political institutions prior to the advent of colonial rule in Rhodesia. He uses a simple plot in which Chief Nyangombe of one ethnic group launches a search for a pretty girl to marry. His emissary brings back Chipochedenga, a pretty and idolised daughter of an enemy chief. War follows and Nyangombe finally wins a victory over his adversary, Chief Pfumojena. In this simple plot Solomon depicts with nostalgia the traditional values, mores, beer parties, orderliness and political upheavals of bygone days. We are taken into Kings' courts where we catch glimpses of both democratic and tyrannical practices. The description of characters is very much like that of Charles Dickens. It is punctuated here and there by moving poetry which reflects the genius of the author. Although the trans- lation is good, Shona speakers who have read the original version in that language easily detect that the quality of the story has been significantly reduced in the process of translation. The English version no longer reflects the empathy with which the original was written. The author of this article read the original when he was in high school back in 1957. It easily became the most popular book in the school and many students soon found themselves with nicknames taken from the book. In the novel, Mutswairo has created a work of art whose popularity will defy time and which very well compares with famous literary works in literature such as those of Charles Dickens, Walter Scott and Henry Fielding. Feso's hidden meanings and political undercurrents soon found much appeal among African nationalists in Zimbabwe who began to recite its poetry at political rallies. For this reason the government moved against the book which was removed from the list of text books in the country. Publication of the book was also stopped in Rhodesia. This action alone is perhaps one of the best recommendations for the book to those who have not read it.

Henry Vusso Moyana is Assistant Professor of History and chairman of The History Department at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.

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The poetry collected in this book is the product of four authors, Mutswairo, Chidavaenzi, Kousu and the late Herbert Chitepo. The anthology consists of twenty-five poems, covering a variety of themes ranging from love to nursery poems. Again while the translation is good much is lost in the process and an English speaker may not derive the same satisfaction which a Shona speaker derives from them. They are first class poems which cannot be translated without distortion, for the Shona language has words whose meanings cannot be fully captured in translation. Unlike the novel, the poems are printed in the original Shona as well as in translation.

In spite of the difdiculties encountered in translation the book Zimbabwe is still a literary masterpiece which must engage not only scholars in African literature but all those who seek a better understanding of traditional African customs and politics.

One Man's Educational Journey

Edward A. Hawley

Martiin 0. Ijere, AN AFRICAN IN GERMANY, (IHicksville, N.Y.: Exposition Press, Inc., 1976), 96 pp., $5.00.

This slight but well-\nritten book may serve as a useful guide to Af'ricans stu(iying abroad, even though Dr. Ijer-e obtained his doctorate in agricultural ecoinoimics fl'roI Frieburg University in 1961, and some conlditioIns have un- Ioubtedly chlanged in the intervening lifteeni years. The title is somewhalt

misleading, ais alminost hallf the b)ook is devoted to Ijere's schoolinig fromii the time he first entered the Catholic elementary school at Nsu in Eastern Nigeriax in 1935 through studies at F'ourah Baiy from 1954 to 1958. The style is a1necdot3al, few experienlces are related in depth, and anyone geierally familiar witl) African and EuIoOpeal eduICZatioll Will leairni little new. But as a

rief introdUCtiOnl to African eduLCatiOnl ani(d the feelinigs of an African abroad forI Europxeans aid Americans, and as anl introduction to overseas experienice foi Africlns goiing to Europe lfor the ftiirst time, the b)ook will be useful and eljo yable t ra(ling.

Edward Hawley is Africa Today's executive editor.

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