Strife

by Shimmer Chinodya

Strife is a rich and densely written novel that provides a dark expos? of the tension between modernity and tradition, and deep insights into culture in Zimbabwe in the 21st century. Chinodya explores the powerful draw that conflicting ideologies exercise over an emerging middle-class that at once yearns for autonomy and unconsciously desires the irresponsibility of an all-pervading destiny. Tracing the Gwanagara?s roots back over a century, Chinodya interweaves past and the present, juxtaposing incidents never forgotten or resolved, revealing how memory becomes an actor in lived time. A large family grows up in Gweru. Their father aspires to be an enlightened Christian man; he sees his children through school and college where they do well. But as adults, they are struck by illness. Who is to blame? Who is to cure these ailments? What wrongs have they committed to offend the ancestors? How can atonement be made? Can education, science and medicine provide any solution? Their mother, the moon huntress, seeks out the answers and the cures in traditional beliefs and customs.

Genres: Zimbabwe, Fiction, Africa

Kindle Edition

First published December 29, 2006

About the author

born in Gweru in 1957 and was educated at Goromonzi High School and the University of Zimbabwe, where he studied literature and education. He gained an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa, USA, in 1985, a year after he had attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University.

He is the author of several books including Harvest of Thorns, for which he won the Commonwealth Writers Prize in 1990. His short story "Can We Talk", included in Can We Talk and Other Stories, was shortlisted for The Caine Prize for African Writing in 2000.

Other works by Shimmer Chinodya:
Dew in the Morning (1982) (Available in the AWS in 2001)
Farai's Girls (1984)
Child of War (published under the name of B. Chirasha) (1985).

Chinodya has worked extensively as a curriculm developer, materials designer, editor and screen writer. He has been awarded various fellowships abroad and from 1995 to 1997 was the Distinguished Visiting Professor in creative writing at St. Lawrence University, New York. He lives with his wife and family in Harare.

Reviews

[ELLIOT MACKENZIE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bhuku rinobvira pakutanga kusvika magumo.



Shona life is brought to life at an unbelievable pace covering generations. Threadbare reality.
Gripping tale that's easily biographical for many a people. Challenges of national politics are cleverly screened out to reveal a family in turmoil.
Tear-jerker on the way the matriach is extinguished.

[HomeInMyShoes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last bit of the book is quite interesting, the first half didn't really hold me.

[Josh Selfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intricate storytelling, and an interesting look at fate, tradition, and modernity.