Solomon Mutswairo
Encyclopedia
Solomon Mangwiro Mutswairo also spelt Mutsvairo, (born April 26, 1924) is a Zimbabwe
an novelist and poet. A member of the Zezuru people of central Zimbabwe, Mutswairo wrote the first novel in the Shona language
, Feso.
Feso, originally published in Zezuru in 1957 (when Zimbabwe was still a colonial territory called Southern Rhodesia
), is a narrative with subtle political implications set several hundreds years ago, just before British colonization
. Beyond the use of the Shona language itself, the novel incorporates a number of features of traditional Zezuru oral culture, including song and storytelling techniques. Despite Mutswairo's association with the small intellectual elite in the country, Feso was widely read, and even taught in schools, until it was banned by the government of the new state of Rhodesia
in the mid-1960s.
Mutswairo began studying in the United States
in the early 1960s, originally through a Fulbright grant. He ultimately received his Ph.D. from Howard University
in 1978, with a doctoral dissertation titled Oral Literature in Zimbabwe: An Analytico-Interpretive Approach. Though his research in Zimbabwean oral culture has been useful for both African and Western scholars, he has been considered something of a revisionist historian in his own country. He provoked some controversy by arguing, in a series of televised debates, that the Shona people should be referred to instead as "Mbire."
More recently, Mutswairo has written both poetry and prose in English. His two explicitly political historical novels, about 19th century pro-independence figure Kadungure Mapondera
and Chaminuka, a sage from Zimbabwean folklore, were both written in English, and his English poetry is in a similar vein. In "The Picture of Nahanda and Kagubi," he laments the fate of Nehanda Nyakasikana
, a woman who was executed after inspiring a fight for independence in the 19th century:
Mutswairo has explained that his poetry is more influenced by English poetry, with its regular meters, while traditional Shona poetry, based in repetition has often found its way into his prose. Since he has also translated his own work in both directions, he has acquired an unusually rich sense of the relationship between the two. He has found, he says, intuitive ways of making leaps from one to the other, even if they sometimes defy word-for-word translation:
In recent years, Mutswairo has been a central figure in Zimbabwean academic and cultural circles. He was the first person to be named Writer-in-Residence at the University of Zimbabwe
, and was the Chairman of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe during the late 1990s. Mutswairo wrote the text for "Simudzai mureza weZimbabwe
," the Zimbabwean national anthem.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an novelist and poet. A member of the Zezuru people of central Zimbabwe, Mutswairo wrote the first novel in the Shona language
Shona language
Shona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples who speak one of the Shona language dialects: Zezuru, Karanga, Manyika, Ndau and Korekore...
, Feso.
Feso, originally published in Zezuru in 1957 (when Zimbabwe was still a colonial territory called Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
), is a narrative with subtle political implications set several hundreds years ago, just before British colonization
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. Beyond the use of the Shona language itself, the novel incorporates a number of features of traditional Zezuru oral culture, including song and storytelling techniques. Despite Mutswairo's association with the small intellectual elite in the country, Feso was widely read, and even taught in schools, until it was banned by the government of the new state of Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
in the mid-1960s.
Mutswairo began studying in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the early 1960s, originally through a Fulbright grant. He ultimately received his Ph.D. from Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in 1978, with a doctoral dissertation titled Oral Literature in Zimbabwe: An Analytico-Interpretive Approach. Though his research in Zimbabwean oral culture has been useful for both African and Western scholars, he has been considered something of a revisionist historian in his own country. He provoked some controversy by arguing, in a series of televised debates, that the Shona people should be referred to instead as "Mbire."
More recently, Mutswairo has written both poetry and prose in English. His two explicitly political historical novels, about 19th century pro-independence figure Kadungure Mapondera
Kadungure Mapondera
Chief Kadungure Mapondera helped to lead the Shona people of Southern Africa against British colonial forces in the 1890s. He eventually surrendered to his enemies and was tried and sentenced to imprisonment.1901 Mapondera Rebellion ;...
and Chaminuka, a sage from Zimbabwean folklore, were both written in English, and his English poetry is in a similar vein. In "The Picture of Nahanda and Kagubi," he laments the fate of Nehanda Nyakasikana
Nehanda Nyakasikana
Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana was a svikiro, or spirit medium of the Zezuru Shona people. As one of the spiritual leaders of the Shona, she provided inspiration to the Hwata Dynasty for their revolt against the British South Africa Company colonisation of Mashonaland and Matabeleland .She was a Hera...
, a woman who was executed after inspiring a fight for independence in the 19th century:
- Why, now, Nehanda Nyakasikana,
Do you close your eyes, Mufakose,
With your face gently lowered
And your eyes staring long
And looking down—heavy with tears. . .
Mutswairo has explained that his poetry is more influenced by English poetry, with its regular meters, while traditional Shona poetry, based in repetition has often found its way into his prose. Since he has also translated his own work in both directions, he has acquired an unusually rich sense of the relationship between the two. He has found, he says, intuitive ways of making leaps from one to the other, even if they sometimes defy word-for-word translation:
- For example, an idiomatic expression like Chauinacho batisisa midzimu haipe kaviri: "What you have, hold on to it fast because the ancestors will not give it to you again." If you wrote it the way I'm saying it now, it wouldn't make sense. Maybe it might be better to say, "A bird in hand is worth two in a bush." And this has given you a totally different use although the idea is the same. So, there are many such expressions that are not synonymous, but somehow you can get the equivalent.
In recent years, Mutswairo has been a central figure in Zimbabwean academic and cultural circles. He was the first person to be named Writer-in-Residence at the University of Zimbabwe
University of Zimbabwe
The University of Zimbabwe in Harare, is the oldest and largest university in Zimbabwe. It was founded through a special relationship with the University of London and it opened its doors to its first students in 1952. The university has ten faculties offering a wide variety of degree programmes...
, and was the Chairman of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe during the late 1990s. Mutswairo wrote the text for "Simudzai mureza weZimbabwe
National Anthem of Zimbabwe
Blessed be the Land of Zimbabwe is the national anthem of Zimbabwe. It was introduced in March 1994 after a nation-wide competition to replace with a distinctly Zimbabwean song. The winning entry was a song written by Professor Solomon Mutswairo and composed by Fred Changundega...
," the Zimbabwean national anthem.
Major works in English
- Feso. Washington: Three Continents Press, 1974.
- Zimbabwe: Prose and Poetry (as editor and contributor). Washington: Three Continents, 1974.
- Mapondera, Soldier Of Zimbabwe. Washington: Three Continents, 1978.
- Chaminuka, Prophet Of Zimbabwe. Washington: Three Continents, 1983.
- Introduction to Shona Culture. Zimbabwe: Juta Zimbabwe, 1996.