CHI-TOWN POET ON CLOUD NINE
BUDDING Chitungwiza-based poet, Wilson Waison, is on cloud nine.
This follows the successful launch of his second anthology titled Gangaidzo Ramazwi, which coincided with the just-ended Harare International Literature Festival (LitFest Harare) held last weekend in the capital.
Waison penned his second anthology in vernacular and it revolves around the major themes of deception, cultural dilution, death, hunger, starvation and several other sub themes.
“I would like to thank everyone who came to support me at the launch.
“Your presence meant a lot and I promise to keep on working hard
“I had my first poem at the 2nd edition of LitFest Harare whilst attending a literature workshop at the British Council.
“It has always been my wish to write a book in my own language and you made it possible by attending,” he said.
His collection consists of 30 poems which cut across various sub themes.
The poet said he was inspired to write in vernacular language as he believes that Shona writers are no longer consistent as was the case before.
He also said it was not easy to write in Shona.
“So after Murder Me in 2020, I felt that there was need to self-discover and try something new in my own tongue but it was not easy.
“The challenge was to choose a perfect dialect and that was the most difficult thing to do.
“I then realised that if I would concentrate on a particular Shona dialect, I would have to be more careful and precise and I just then wrote and self-coined some phrase,” Waison added.
Apart from the language, Waison said he faced some financial challenges to publish the book.
“I want to thank my family and friends who came on board to help me,
“I invite you all to come and witness one of your own doing what he knows best,” he said.