Sinokubonga Nkala
Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
On Friday, the organisers of the Intwasa Short Story Competition, also known as the Dr Yvonne Vera Literary Award 2024, celebrated the art of storytelling by unveiling this year’s winners.
The awards honour the legacy of acclaimed writer Dr Yvonne Vera, a literary icon from Bulawayo, and seek to promote original prose writing in the English language.
Lazarus Panashe Nyagwambo was awarded the top prize for his compelling story, Of Fat, Bearded Women, while Ayanda Ncube was in second place with her thought-provoking piece, Stone Face: The Duality of the Stars: The Tale of Ogle TR122b. Nyagwambo received a cash prize of US$300, while Ncube was awarded US$200, providing significant encouragement for writers to refine their craft.
This year’s competition drew an impressive 136 entries from both local and diaspora writers, showcasing rich literary voices from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana and Tanzania. From this diverse pool, 20 stories were shortlisted.
Among the shortlisted entries were works from notable writers such as Nkosilathi J Dube with Fording Limpopo, Effort N Makwarimba’s Burden to Love and Tanaka Chidora’s The Death of Vanda, among others. Each piece reflected the depth and variety of contemporary African narratives, resonating with themes that connect, inspire and reflect the collective experiences of the region.
The recently held Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo served as a key platform for celebrating these stories and promoting the importance of literature within Zimbabwean society. — @MbuleloMpofu
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