via Top Novelist and poet Hove dies in exile – New Zimbabwe 12/07/2015
AWARD winning Zimbabwean novelist and poet Chenjerai Hove (59) has died in Norway.
Hove had lived in self-imposed exile since the early 2000s.
He was born in Mazvihwa near Zvishavane in 1956 and attended school at Kutama College and Marist Brothers in Dete, near Hwange.
He became a teacher and then took degrees at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and the University of Zimbabwe.
Hove wrote newspaper columns and countless articles on the Zimbabwean situation.
He travelled throughout the world and is also remembered for his fondness for African sayings and proverbs. One of the sayings he popularised in Zimbabwe was from Somalia.
“The higher the monkey climbs the more it exposes its bottom,” goes the saying which Hove used in one of his articles criticising the then Constitutional Commission spokesperson Professor Jonathan Moyo in 1999.
Ahead of his exile Hove was known to spend his weekends debating and playing darts with friends in Queensdale Harare.
Hove published many books and essays.
His publications include:
• And Now the Poets Speak (co-editor; poetry), 1981
• Up In Arms (poetry), Harare: Zimbabwe Publishing House, 1982
• Red Hills of Home (poetry), 1984; Gweru: Mambo Press, 1985.
• Bones (novel), Harare: Baobab Books, 1988; Heineman International AWS, 1989. ISBN 0-435-90576-7
• Shadows (novel), Harare: Baobab Books, 1991; Heinemann International Literature and Textbooks, 1992. ISBN 0-435-90591-0
• Shebeen Tales: Messages from Harare (journalistic essays), Harare: Baobab Books/London: Serif, 1994
• Rainbows in the Dust (poetry), 1997
• Guardians of the Soil (cultural reflections by Zimbabwe’s elders), 1997. ISBN 0-908311-88-5
• Ancestors (novel), 1997. ISBN 0-330-34490-0
• Desperately Seeking Europe (co-author; essays on European identity), 2003
• Palaver Finish, essays on politics and life in Zimbabwe, 2003
• Blind Moon (poetry), 2004. ISBN 1-77922-019-7
• The Keys of Ramb (children’s story), 2004
Honours and awards
• 1983 Special Commendations for the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa, for Up in Arms
• 1984 Inaugural President, Zimbabwe Writers Union
• 1988 Winner, Zimbabwe Literary Award, for Bones
• 1989 Winner, Noma Award for Publishing In Africa, for Bones
• 1990 Founding Board Member, Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (Zimrights)
• 1991-94 Writer-in-Residence, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
• 1994 Visiting Professor, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon, USA
• 1995 Guest Writer, Yorkshire and Humberside Arts and Leeds University, UK
• 1996 Guest Writer, Heinrich Böll Foundation, Germany
• 1998 Second Prize, Zimbabwe Literary Award, for Ancestors
• 2001 German-Africa Prize for literary contribution to freedom of expression
• 2007-08 International Writers Project Fellow, Brown University
COMMENTS
Sad he dies in exile, running away from a man who claims he liberated him. Instead of being beacons in our societies they are hunted down like mouse by CIOs.
If it was only him I would have given the ruthless Mugabe the benefit of the doubt. But alas the great nation is now scattered all over the world. Our great musicians, business people, lawyers, broadcaster, scholars, sportsmen, artist, journalist, farmers to name but a few, have been thrown in the dust bin of diaspora.
Mapfumo, Masiyiwa, Trevor Ncube, Nkosana Moyo, Henry Olanga, James Manyika, Makamba, Mawere you name them, what a pity while Gushongo tells it is the British’s fault.
By the way can anyone tell me any black man who has been empowered by Mugabe, except ana Kizito, Razaros, Zhwayos and the Kaitanos. I have searched in my Clan and I have not found any.
Brain drain started long before, as young people who were lucky enough to study abroad could not come home any more.Many married fat,old white women to secure their stay.A sad lose to our young women with whom they could have built a solid zim family even in the diasipora.
May his soul rest in peace. His works are immortal. May his family and friends be comforted.
Another sad story. There seem to be many sequels to that old book– ” Cry the beloved Country.’