HomeOld_PostsRevisiting power of letters

Revisiting power of letters

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By Fidelis Manyange

WHEN we were growing up, we used to spy on our elder sisters and brothers’ love affairs through uncanny ways.

We used to ‘systematically’ hunt for their love letters and steal them, then demand a ransom so we would not hand them over to our parents.

Our ‘captives’ could not imagine the content of the letters reaching our parents, especially the fathers. They dreaded the backlash which would normally follow in the form of a thorough hiding.

Contents of the letters were specifically codified to be shared between the lovers only.

It was after we were bribed with goodies or coins that we handed back the much treasured letters.

We would use the coins to buy balloons, sweets or biscuits.

Those were the days when a letter, whether hand-delivered or through the Post Office, was powerful.

The influence or power of a letter, as a way of conveying information between friends and loved ones cannot be compared to any other form —not even the current modes of communication.

The advent of social media platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram and Twitter, among others, has made letter writing hopelessly outdated.

However, the writing and reception of letters will always offer an experience that modern technology cannot match.

Letters were the best form of communication when it came to sharing one’s true thoughts, sincere sympathies, ardent love or deepest gratitude.

In towns and cities, the sight of the Postman sent hearts into palpitations.

The sight of one’s name scribbled in a familiar handwriting, on a stamped envelope, was magical.

In rural areas, schools and business centres were places of letter-collection.

The youngsters of today are unfortunate not to have witnessed the funny and interesting events which accompanied the letter era.

Today, Post Offices have been turned into shops of all kinds.

Credit and other business letters now form most of the written word being received these days.

Nowadays, just through the click of a button, hundreds of messages pour in one’s phone and some ‘letters’ you disregard.

Letters of old took days or weeks to reach their destination.

Who would afford to ignore a letter? 

Who would read a letter half-way? 

Absolutely noone!

The sight of one’s name scribbled in a familiar handwriting, on a stamped envelope, was magical.

With a letter, one had to buy an envelope and a writing pad, take a pen, take time to write and then stand in a queue in the Post Office to buy a stamp; all in an effort to convey a message to a loved one.

Ink from the pen touched the stationery, one’s fingers touched the paper, one’s saliva aided in sealing the envelope.

Letters created a connection that modern ‘impersonal’ forms of communication cannot achieve.

The contents of the letter came from the bottom of one’s heart, well thought out, emotional, genuine and straight to the point. 

Wadiwa Kudzi’, or ‘Anodiwa Mai Vimbai’ were some of the salutations on letters, with memorable conclusions such as ‘Wako anokuda nguva dzose Vongai’.

These were all genuine phrases pasina zvekuti ndatumira message kusiriko.

If the letter got lost, it was the mistake of those who sorted the letters at the post office.

With letters, one could read them over-and-over, even after a long period and still get the same feeling.

Letters had a long shelf-life.

Hand-delivered letters were also equally powerful among adolescents and elders within the community. 

An epic moment in letter writing is captured in the late writer Bishop Patrick Fani Chakaipa’s novel Garandichauya in which shop owner, Handisumbe, wrote a love letter to Muchaneta, the most beautiful girl in the community. 

Handisumbe sent the letter through Muchaneta’s neighbour, Matamba. 

The letters were mostly sent through young innocent boys as in the case of Matamba. 

These youngsters gave the letters the respect they deserved. 

Handisumbe and Muchaneta eventually fell in love. 

Muchaneta would, from time-to-time, send Matamba with letters containing love messages punctuated by a request for a list of groceries. 

Handisumbe would always smile at the sight of the little boy, Matamba, and give him the groceries to take to Muchaneta and he got a fair share of his favourite sweets for his efforts.

In the book Harvest of Thorns, Shimmer Chinodya writes about Cleopas Wandai J. Tichafa who wrote a letter in broken English to Shamiso Mhaka, proposing love to her.

The letter reads: “ Dearest, Daleng Shamiso Mhaka, I hope you so sarpraised by riciving this missive but I just decision to send you one because I have importent news and this news I am keeping for myself for some time… I want to marry you and to call you Mrs.Clopas Wandai J. Tichafa my wife.” 

Despite the broken English, the message is clear; here is a man hopelessly in love.

Letters were the media through which all the emotional yearnings and exaggerations were expressed. 

During our school days, if a love letter got lost within the school premises, one would dread coming to school.

Either the letter would be read at the assembly or pinned on the noticeboard for all to see.

Or it could do rounds without your knowledge.

I vividly remember how some letters were folded beautifully to show the value of the recipient.

Folding a letter became an art form.

Some would go the extra mile by spraying perfume on the letter or envelope to emphasise their affection.

Some would scribble on the envelopes phrases like: ‘Roll me to’ or ‘Tamba fast Postman’, among many other statements.

Those letters which were over decorated or showed signs of containing photos were opened by enthusiastic teachers or prefects before getting to their owners.

There were private bags (P Bag) and Post Office Box (P O Box). 

The Private Bag was more secure than the Post Office Box because it was handed to the Post Officer, locked, and handed back locked after the letters were put in.

It was unlocked by the school authorities.

With the Post Office Box, everyone could get access to the letters as long as he or she had the appropriate key.

A pay forward letter was like receiving a modern day mobile ‘Please call me back’.

Sometimes it was embarrassing to receive it in public.

Above all, it was that urge to communicate to a loved one which made people send letters without stamps as ‘Pay forward’. 

The contents of the letter would override all the embarrassment.

Letters will always remain an important component of historical records giving one an incomparable window into the past.

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