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Stanely Mushava Arts Correspondent
The Bulawayo edition of Zimbabwe International Book Fair takes place on March 28 and 29 at Large City Hall.
The regional book fair would run under the theme “Indigenous Languages, Literature, Art and Knowledge Systems of Africa” in line with the banner of the main book fair.
A workshop for writers, publishers, booksellers and librarians would set the fair in motion followed by the literary evening on the first day of the fair.

Exhibitions, Children’s Reading Tent and Live Literature Centre would run concurrently throughout the fair.
ZIBF Chairperson Musaemura Zimunya urged parents and schools in the Matebeleland region to encourage students to attend the exhibitions for their educational, professional and intellectual growth.

Ten topics are up for deliberation during the workshop, including “Writing and Publishing in Indigenous Languages, “The Contribution of Libraries in Promoting Indigenous Languages” and “Folk Tales, Riddles and Proverbs as Indicators of Social Values.”

“Following the success of the 2013 Bulawayo Literary Evening, we have scheduled another evening for authors to celebrate their art as well as to mix and mingle with their fraternity,” Zimunya said.

“Of course, Children’s Reading Tent, Live Literature Centre and The Digital Zone along with The Book Fair Exhibitions themselves will run for the benefit of the young ones,” he said.

Zimunya said that the number of topics scheduled for discussion have limited given compressed scope of the one-day workshop.
The book fair organisers noted overwhelming submissions and enlightening presentations on indigenous languages during the previous indaba, the movement to beneficiate African heritages through tourism and the necessity to recognise and celebrate the vast literary and academic productions and publications in and about African languages as some of the reasons in arriving upon the theme for this year.

“We are sending a message of support and encouragement to authors, readers, researchers and publishers in these language media that their efforts play a vital role in intellectual growth, national and African continental development,” Zimunya said.

He also noted the need to headline hitherto marginalised Zimbabwean languages which are now legally recognised under the new constitution, considering their potential to transform ideas of identity and the importance of tolerance in a setting of ethnic diversity as some the dynamics underlying the theme.

Now in its 31st year, ZIBF remains the principal literary interface, bringing together stakeholders across the book sector to address issues beneficial to the industry in order and exploiting common synergies to grow the sector.