TENDAI HUCHU (Zimbabwe)

By IM SOQAGA

So far as world literature is concerned, African literature has featured successfully in the world of letters.  Unanimously, literary pundits have commended African literature as one of the extraordinary dimension in the world.  From inception, African modern literature has been profoundly impressive.  

As many will consent and will of course recall how over the years African writers have contributed imperatively in popularising African literature in the world.  Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart, The Interpreters by Wole Soyinka, The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet born by Ayi Kwei Armha, Es’kia Mphahlele Down Second Avenue, Peter Abrahams Mine Boy,  Weep Not, Child by Ngugi wa Thiong’o, God’s Bits of  Wood by Ousmane Sembene to name but few-hypnotize the world exceedingly.

On the other hand African female contemporary writers have concurrently contributed enormously immaculate in African literature.  African mothers like Bessie Head, Grace Ogot, Buchi Emechete, Ama Ata Aido, Mariama Ba, Lauretta Ngcobo etc.  Can any shun the spectacular achievement that will invariable remain an awesome inspiration?  In 1986 Professor Wole Soyinka became the first Black African writer to be conferred with the prestigious Noble Prize in Literature.

Apparently, it is gratifying to see young writers continuing to do excellent in advocating African literature.  The current situation which is the digital era is probably daunting.  The influence of modern technology is very potent and it can be adverse if it is not use appropriate.  Many people in the world today rely on technology, in schools technology is part of the school curriculum. 

Fundamentally, students need to fathom and grasp this opportunity and be familiar with the technique of using technology for relevant purpose.  Internet provides requisite researches for the empowerment of the mind.  Inevitable, many schools in Africa are still following the old method of colonial type of education.  For example, it is hardly to found African books written by African writers being part of the curriculum or syllabus in school.  How many African people who know that Professor Soyinka is the first Black African writer to be awarded with the Noble Prize in Literature?  How often Africans communicate about African literature generally? 

Do televisions, leaders, academics and general population of Africa ever emphasise African literature? Yes!  We are living in the digital world where Smartphone’s are dominating quotidian activities of people in the world.  Smartphone’s are equally convenient in providing animating information that is pertinent and illuminating about literature.  Books are ineluctable and it can be impossible to be replaced by any alluring technology.  However, technology is significant in furnishing heady details about African literature.  To reiterate, it is not easy to found colossal number of books churn out by sublime African writers in African schools, libraries and so on.  This is the worrying situation because African literature is popular in the West; therefore for one to be informed, it is essential to appreciate the value of technology.

Tendai Huchu, the charismatic young Zimbabwean writer is the apposite paradigm in these circumstances.  Many young writers throughout the African continent are contributing resoundingly in literature.  Their invaluable contribution is noteworthy because it is optimal for Africa and its people.  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi, Noviolet Bulawayo, Mukoma Wa Ngugi, Charmaine Kolwane, Matshidiso Taleng, Leke Giwa, Henry Ozogula, Jah Rose, T. Thiba, Tendai Huchu etc are prodigious young African writers.

Specifically, Tendai Huchu is one of the sublime and outstanding young African writers.  His scintillating two books The Hairdresser of Harare (2010) and The Maestro, The Magistrate & The Mathematician are tour de force.  As a Zimbabwean writer his contribution in literature is exhilarating.  Can the world expect another Dambuzdo Marechera?  Tendai Huchu deserves to be acclaimed with the sterling work he is doing. 

It is completely riveting to see Africa produces such assiduous and salubrious writers of the character of Tendai Huchu.  One can easily say, with lot of ecstasy that African ancestors are with African people, because early pioneers and catalyst of African literature are rapidly leaving this world.  Tendai Huchu has sum up what constitute literature in digital era:  “I do think, though, that in this digital age, the short story may gain an edge, and it is thriving online.  There’s probably more digital literary magazines out there than there are reader”.  Substantially, it is satisfying to see young writers slake literary appetite in this wise.  

Excitingly, it is a ravishing thing to see them carrying on the work which the pioneers and catalyst of literature have already been doing.   Tendai Huchu is the inspiration and sagacious young writer, his first novel, The Hairdresser of Harare, was released in 2010 to critical acclaim, and has been translated into German, French, Italian, and Spanish.  His multi-genre short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in The Manchester Review, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Gutter, Interzone, AfroSF, Wasafire, Warscapes, The Africa Report and elsewhere.  His new novel is The Maestro, The Magistrate & The Mathematician.