Zim’s Nyoni makes elite top five
AWARD-WINNING Zimbabwean writer Philani Nyoni is in the running to clinch the top prize in the inaugural Afritondo short story competition, with his story, Slick Dog: Diary of a Ninja chosen as one of the five contenders to walk away with the top prize when the winner is announced on Friday.
Nyoni initially made the longlist of 21 from a list of 421 submissions from Africa and its diaspora, with writers from countries that include Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Speaking to Sunday Life, Nyoni dedicated his latest honour to his various literary mentors.
“I’ve been very lucky to have great mentors like John Eppel, Jefferson Shabalala, T H Moyo, James Arnett Chirikure Chirikure among many. Noviolet has believed in me and given me life changing opportunities, my Uncle Adolf Tshuma also always has my back. I walk through this city and experience immense love. I am loved at home; I have a great family that supports me even when we disagree,” he said.
The wordsmith, who is sometimes reputed to be an explosive character, said that this story was also about his growth not just as a writer but as a person.
“This nomination is not about me, it’s about the story. I appreciate all these people and many more who do things I know and things I don’t know for me; one time in a bright moment of my career I met someone who told me Albert Nyathi has said great things about me, and at the time I thought Albert hadn’t done enough for the city and upcoming poets. I was wrong, I was young, I didn’t know a lot of things,” he said.
Nyoni said he consulted widely while writing the short story.