THROUGH stories, a people’s history can be distorted.
Whites, with this in mind, have used stories to defame Africans and distort their history.
However, it is up to Africans to redress this.
This week, the annual Zimbabwe International Book Fair came and went.
In what has become the norm, stakeholders in the book industry convened for a two-day indaba, marking the beginning of the Fair.
The conference ran under the theme; ‘Making the Book Pay’.
Writers sought to find ways to curb book piracy, among other challenges, affecting the book industry.
The proliferation of book-street vendors is worrisome.
Most books on the streets are photocopies of original books.
Writers and publishers are losing out.
In his presentation titled ‘Making the Book Pay: Breaking Stereotypes’, Pentecost Mate called on publishers to effect cost-cutting measures when printing books.
“Readers do not study the quality of the paper, but what is written (on the paper),” he said.
Visiting Tanzanian presenter Shemeji Melayeki, in his presentation titled ‘The Power of Reading Books: Creating a Habit of Reading’, called on writers and publishers to adopt new technologies.
“There is a lack of digital asset distributors, but it is essential that books are available in all formats to ensure they reach a wider target market.”
Day two ran under the sub-theme: ‘Creating the Africa We Want Through Reading (Africa Agenda 2063)’.
The journey, started by Africa’s founding fathers in 1963 with the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU), still continues.
Their efforts did not go to waste as the continent continues to celebrate their work and soldier on in achieving their dreams.
These included Presidents Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Julius Nyerere (Tanzania), Sekou Toure (Guinea), Haile Selassie (Ethiopia), Ahmed Ben Bella (Algeria), William Tubman (Liberia) and Modibo Keita (Mali).
In 2015, AU member-states adopted ‘Agenda 2063’, a strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of the continent over the next 50 years.
It is this ‘dream’ local writers intend to help push.
For long, these men (founding fathers), who are the face of Africa, the spirit of Africa, have not been celebrated.
It is saddening to note that not much about these men has been written from an African perspective.
Biographies and books recounting the lives of these great men have been written by whites.
This has also been done to other African leaders who have fought for the development and empowerment of Africans.
This would be a great start for local writers who intend to keep Africa’s story alive.
Macdonald Nhakura, in his presentation titled ‘The Role of Parents in Children’s Reading, Education, Talent Identification which Stimulates Life Long Career Prospects’, raises pertinent aspects on how writers can help shape the African dream.
“Through books which tell the local story, people can be inspired to develop the country,” he said.
Locals should take a leaf from this and ensure that our historical narrative is not lost.
The onus is now on locals, especially those who participated in the liberation struggle, to ‘take up their pens’ and fight this emerging war and defeat the enemy by telling their side of the story.
It is important that future generations learn about the liberation struggle using information from the winners’ perspective.
The older generations used the gun to safeguard the country’s heritage, therefore local writers now intend to use the pen to do the same.
If not, future generations will not celebrate Herbert Chitepo, Josiah Tongogara, Jason Moyo, Leopold Takawira, Josiah Chinamano, Robson Manyika and Dr Joshua Nkomo, among other heroes.
Credit will be given to Cecil John Rhodes, Leander Jameson, Robert Moffat, Allan Wilson, Ian Smith and Godfrey Huggins for ‘shaping’ the country’s future.
They will think the Chimoio, Kangara Base and Nyadzonia massacres, among others, were justified.
They will think locals deserved to be driven into protected villages (Keeps).
Battles of Shangani, Mavonde and Grand Reef will be forgotten.
Why?
Literature would be informing them Second Chimurenga heroes were ‘terrorists’ who did nothing spectacular.
Rhodesian writer Toc Walsh’s version of events on Chimoio would be taken as fact.
Efforts by nationalists would be downplayed and freedom fighters would be castigated.
The onus is on writers to correct this anomally.
Susan Kaisa, in her presentation titled ‘Investigating the Influence of Infant Teachers’ Approaches and Attitudes on Children’s Reading Culture’, urged local writers to take advantage of the new curriculum and write stories that celebrate the local culture.
It is time to make hay while the sun shines.
Locals should set the record straight.
Young writers should use local books as sources of references as they document history – history that future generations will be proud to identify with.