Makamera preserving culture through book

YOUNG and prolific author Abraham Makamera is determined to preserve culture through fusion of African- related content in his writings.

Makamera who is a member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police ( ZRP) said as an African writer it was his duty to reflect pro- Africanism in order to reduce cultural erosion.

In an interview, Makamera who was known for his novel “Mboni” which got recognition in the 2019 National Arts Merit Awards ( NAMA) said it was worrisome that most of youth are precipitating culture erosion instead of being the custodians of Pan- Africanism.

“My novels are old world or historical fiction. The purpose is to preserve our Culture as Africans, our Zimbabweaness. We are seeing people adopting foreign cultures especially the Western culture so as a talented writer, I’m trying to push for the preservation of our African culture,” said Makamera.

“In 2020 I published “Mboni” with Progressive Publishers and Booksellers which is a Shona book. It is of fiction genre mainly focusing on how to safeguard our African culture which is the source of our pride.

“Now I draw much inspiration from our First Lady Amai Mnangagwa who is also realigning us to consider our African values through various ways.”

“The central theme of the novel is “Good versus Evil” but it has other sub themes like love, betrayal, courage and death. My books can be read by children from the age of 14yrs and above and I try to fight for children’s rights, child marriages and forced marriages as well,” he said.

Makamera said he also wrote another book titled, “Itai” in 2018 and was nominated for NAMA under outstanding fiction book. H also said he was into poetry adding he wrote an anthology of Shona poems published as “Mukoko weNduri” and “Nduri Upenyu.”

“I am into poetry; I wrote an anthology of poems in Shona.

“I was assisted by other renowned authors like Oscar Gwiriri, Johannes Mike Mupisa, Daniel Mutendi and Tonderai Matema,” said Makamera.

“I developed passion in writing some years back when I was still at ordinary level when I wrote my first novel called “Pannopera Muswe Panonyeredza” in 2009.” he said.

Makamera briefly described the major protagonists in the book and their roles as well as the setting of the book.

“The main character in the novel “Mboni” is Yamurai a girl child born with a task to protect the throne of Vaera Moyo. We also have main characters in Zinyakavambe a great warrior and army commander, Matipa, Yamurai’s Mother and Mambo Goredema,” said Makamera.

“The story was set in an old world in the time of Mutapa State under the leadership of Nyambu Kapararidze, in Uteve Province,” he said.