This book explores the unique contributions of various forms of post-2000 life-writings such as the autobiography, epistles, and biographies, to discourses about the nature and socio-politics of what has become known as the Zimbabwean crisis (c. 2000–2009). Much of what has been written about the Zimbabwean crisis – a decade-long period of unprecedented economic collapse and political upheavals in the southern African country – is strictly discipline-specific and therefore limited to unidimensional modes of theorising the crisis’s many and complex dimensions and dynamics. In this context, this book charts a paradigm shift in hermeneutic and epistemological approaches to comprehending the Zimbabwean crisis. Life-Writing from the Margins in Zimbabwe centres the experiences and memories of ordinary Zimbabweans in pluralizing modes of seeing and knowing the crisis. The book argues that these life-writings present a rich site for encountering versions of the crisis that relate in counter-discursive ways, to the dominant, state-authored narrative of the nation in crisis. Oliver Nyambi’s analysis contributes new ideas to ongoing debates about how cultural texts reflect on the postcoloniality of both power, and experiences and negotiations of power in the context of crisis. This book will be of interest to scholars and students of African literature, Zimbabwean/African studies, postcolonial literature, life-writing and cultural studies.
About the book The guns had barely gone silent after thirty months of a gruesome civil war. The infrastructure in the theater of war had all but been completely battered. A young final-year high school student fresh from the ravages of war had gained admission into one of the only four universities in his forcibly reunited country to study medicine in the western region of the country. A whole world of opportunities had been opened up. An unfolding odyssey of eleven action-packed years in the local West was to transform the emerging lover-boy eaglet through the ranks of William Shakespeares lover sighing like furnace to the soldier full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard. A short stint in party politics followed by leadership in professional politics pitched the young man against the powers that be. These were to culminate into series of dangerously veiled duels that were to ultimately force the man to seek disguised refuge in the shores of the acclaimed West. A new world, a new horizon, new scenes, new challenges, some uncanny solutions; the main actor in the odyssey himself bares it all!
How and when does culture enter the discourse on liberation, transition and crisis in an African post-colony such as Zimbabwe? In a deeply polarised nation reeling from a difficult transition and an unrelenting economic crisis, it is increasingly becoming difficult for the ZANU PF regime to prescribe and enforce its monolithic concept of liberation. This book culls, from contemporary (counter)cultures of liberation and transition, the state of liberations in Zimbabwe. It explores how culture has functioned as a complex site where rigid state-authored liberations are legitimated and naturalised but also where they are negotiated, contested and subverted.
This book explores the unique contributions of various forms of post-2000 life-writings such as the autobiography, epistles, and biographies, to discourses about the nature and socio-politics of what has become known as the Zimbabwean crisis (c. 2000–2009). Much of what has been written about the Zimbabwean crisis – a decade-long period of unprecedented economic collapse and political upheavals in the southern African country – is strictly discipline-specific and therefore limited to unidimensional modes of theorising the crisis’s many and complex dimensions and dynamics. In this context, this book charts a paradigm shift in hermeneutic and epistemological approaches to comprehending the Zimbabwean crisis. Life-Writing from the Margins in Zimbabwe centres the experiences and memories of ordinary Zimbabweans in pluralizing modes of seeing and knowing the crisis. The book argues that these life-writings present a rich site for encountering versions of the crisis that relate in counter-discursive ways, to the dominant, state-authored narrative of the nation in crisis. Oliver Nyambi’s analysis contributes new ideas to ongoing debates about how cultural texts reflect on the postcoloniality of both power, and experiences and negotiations of power in the context of crisis. This book will be of interest to scholars and students of African literature, Zimbabwean/African studies, postcolonial literature, life-writing and cultural studies.
A brilliant medical doctor works his way through the help of a pen pal into a specialist training course in a foreign country. Initially lonely and friendless save for his benefactor pen pal he later warms his way into the love of an indigenous staff nurse in the hospital where he did his residency program. Fame and fortune smile on the doctor after his specialization and he secures appointment as a staff of a teaching hospital in another region of his native country after an initial discriminatory rejection during an interview. Through further good luck coupled with his sterling qualities of honesty he gets appointed as a chairman of one of his country's largest mining companies after an accelerated promotion in his professional practice. He excels in the administration of the fledging company and turns its fortunes around within a very short time. His uncompromising stance against corruption, the very ills that had earlier wrecked the company, pitches him against certain highly-placed individuals whose corrupt exploitation of the industry were blocked by the chairman's uncompromising stance with evil practices. The Chairman gets fired but his undeniable qualities again get him noticed by the presidency of his country which appoints him the president of his University. History repeats itself as a result of insistence on transparency again leading to flight and resignation of the Vice Chancellor. Unfortunately infidelity and inattentiveness to family matters leads to the failure of the Vice Chancellor's marriage. Failure of attempts to repair the damages finally leads a once promising young man into headlong dash for dinner with the devil with consequent disastrous consequences for Konganoga the country that was being fleeced. Konganoga: Mauling the Polity is a thrilling tale of the persistent clash between good and evil and the effects against a once great and a promising people and nation.
Okoli lives an adventurous life which includes time in his father's business abode, admission into an elite secondary school, fighting in a civil war, medical school and even politics where he nearly loses his life. Through it all, Okoli remembers the suppers provided by his father's eight different wives and shared by forty-six children.
This book contains Oliver A Matar's major life events as well as his key life learnings. Oliver is also the author of the books 'Counselors Beyond Knowledge', 'Eudemonia Redemption', 'Fuel of Life' and 'How To Achieve Sustainable Success?
A distinction is drawn between two very similarities based on the two types of characters that the same type of society produced. Orie, Puzo and Nmaku who hail from Angwa and the adjoining Ocha remained back in the village and made their lives almost permanently there rarely knowing what was going on in the outside world but being nonetheless greatly influenced by the latter. Their daily chores are dictated by the daily basic necessities of the moment and they have little to worry perpetually about. A lot of their life is controlled by the dictations and predictions of the traditional medicine man who occasionally misfires in his predictions which have no scientific basis supporting them. His situation is often taken advantage of by the political class who have little or nothing to lose even if the polity collapses. But Livinus on the other end of the spectrum emerges from the civil war and through a dint of luck and hard work studies hard and becomes a doctor. He even proceeds overseas despite a close shave by arsonists. He specializes and returns home to Akunwanta town from where he is again catapulted by fate and focus" to become the governor of his state after a battle between titans eliminates the principal contestants. He at first meant well and had the intention of helping to reform society. Post election litigation and his lack of the economic leverage almost cost him his mandate. But again fate plays a hard one on him and because of his lack of cash he gets tied up to the economic vampires of his society. He is bailed out by a coalition of these vampires and narrowly reclaims his mandate only after colossal bribing of umpires who were least expected to soil their hands. He decides never to go begging ever again and hence he delves headlong into the rot and decay, not by his will but by the circumstances prevailing around him.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.