France-based Zim author launches new book
FRANCE-BASED Zimbabwean writer, Abel Mavura, has released a book, ‘‘Never A Last Episode’’, which demystifies negative cultural beliefs.
This is his third offering and he said it took him three years to complete.
“I have been working on it for almost three years and I wanted to launch it in 2021, but owing to Covid-19, I was behind on almost everything.
“As you may know, almost everyone, especially artists, were hit very hard by the pandemic but I am glad the book is now here.
“The book is a fictional story that seeks to demystify some deeply-rooted negative cultural beliefs and norms that hinder people from achieving their dreams and pursue their inborn talents.
“It’s centred on a boy called Taku, who grew up under the impression he was working hard at school to make his parents happy and, in an effort to achieve this, things fell apart,” he said.
Mavura, who is also a journalist by profession, recently received an award for civic leadership from Gumiguru for the work he has been doing with his organisation, Marvel Act Youth Organisation (MAYO) in Mutoko and its surrounding districts.
“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.
“My first book, ‘The Art of Realising Your Dream’ was selected for an exhibition at the Africa Week, UNESCO Headquarters in
Paris, last year.
“I got the chance to speak during the authors’ lounge and it was a heart-warming moment and a great opportunity for me to be selected among writers from Africa.
“It’s fulfilling that my networking at the event created another opportunity and I exhibited the same book together with the second one, ‘Taku’s Awakening’ in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where a slot was created for me to speak about youth innovation and social entrepreneurship opportunities in Africa,” he said.
Mavura broke onto the international scene when his first publication was selected for exhibition at the UNESCO headquarters Africa Week in May 2019. He started his writing career a decade ago and used to write, and direct plays for social change at his organisation, where he is the founder and director.
He successfully launched his first motivational book “The Art of Realising Your Dream” in Harare in 2017.