NATIONAL ARTS MERIT AWARD (NAMA) 2022
Mosi oa Tunya Literary Review would like to congratulate Batsirai Chigama and Bryony Rheam for winning literary awards at the 20th National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA). We look forward to continuing to work with you in the future!
Batsirai E. Chigama - OUTSTANDING POETRY BOOK
For Women Trying to Breathe and Failing (It’s not your fault) - [Ntombekhaya Poetry]
In the past, self-published books were not given recognition. We have seen the closure of many publishing houses in the country and the few remaining do not have the capacity to accommodate the vast stories our nation has to tell. Slowly but surely self-publishing is becoming the channel for most of our storytelling. Winning two NAMAs with my self-published books is affirmation and acknowledgement that self-published stories have a place in the history of our literature and that means a lot, not only to myself but the future of our storytelling in general ~ Batsirai E. Chigama
Bryony Rheam - OUTSTANDING FICTION BOOK
All Come To Dust - [amaBooks]
I am delighted to have won this award. It is a great honour for me to be recognised by my own country. I feel that All Come To Dust has been well-received and that many Zimbabwean readers identify with the story. Knowing that there is an audience out there for my work, encourages me to continue writing and to explore new subjects. When I finished writing All Come To Dust, I didn't feel that I really wanted to write another crime novel, but now I see there is a market for it, and also that crime is a good way of exploring social values and issues. A big thank you to my publishers at amaBooks who always encourage me to keep writing and who look for different opportunities for me to showcase my work ~ Bryony Rheam
