Morgan Mahanya

Morgan Mahanya
Morgan Mahanya
Born	Morgen Mahanya (1948-06-30) 30 June 1948 Zimuto Mission, Masvingo
Occupation	Novelist, playwright
Language	Shona
Nationality	Zimbabwean
Citizenship	Zimbabwean
Period	1972–present
Genres	Detective fiction, war fiction
Notable awards	Literature in Shona 2nd Prize 1991.[1]
Years active	1972–present
Spouse	Rebecca
Website
twitter.com/MahanyaMorgen

Morgan Mahanya (born 30 June 1948) is a Zimbabwean Shona-language writer of detective fiction and war fiction. He has published 13 books since 1976.^[2] In 1976 Mahanya had one book published, in 1978 three books, in 1980 one book,in 1983 one book and in 1992 two books. Nine of his books are in Shona, two in English and two are undetermined. Six of his total works published are fiction and seven are non-fiction. One book is for juvenile audience and 12 are non-juvenile.^[3] Mahanya is one of the pioneering writers of detective stories in the Shona language.^[4] His books Chidamwoyo, Zvinoyera and The Wound are about the Rhodesian Bush War.

Background

Morgan Mahanya was born at Zimuto Mission in Masvingo Province in a ChiShona-speaking family. His father Nicholas, who deceased in 1966, was the headman in Mahanya Village, Zimuto. Mahanya went to Mutatiri for primary school and Zimuto Mission for secondary school before joining Mambo Press as Short Stories freelance writer and contributor in 1972. He worked for the now defunct Moto Magazine in the 1970s. Mahanya also taught at Sherwood Primary School near Kwekwe 1968-1970 (3 years). His first book published was Rufu Runobereka Rufu (Death begets death). From then to the present day he has 13 books, two of them in the English language. Mahanya's novels have been used in several dissertations and thesis that include a dissertation by Livingstone Makondo (student number 4310-994-2) "An investigation into anthroponyms of the Shona society" submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Literature and Philosophy in the subject African Languages at the University of South Africa. (June 1979)^[5] Mahanya's 1992 novel Matsvanwoyo was extensively quoted as a primary source in a dissertation: The theme of protest in the post-independence Shona Novel by Mickson Mazuruse (student number 4310-988-8); submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the subject African languages at UNISA (November 2010).^[6]

Apart from being a novelist Morgan Mahanya has been a Sidakeni/Empress Mine ward councillor and the Mashambazhou Council chairman in the former Mashambazhou District Council from 1982 to 1991. He also was one of the five commissioners in the amalgamation of Kwekwe Rural Council and Mashambazhou District Council forming the Zibagwe Rural District Council in 1991-1993.^[7]

Works

Morgan Mahanya has written 13 books, 11 of them in Shona.

1. The Wound. ISBN 0-86922-493-X Language: English Publisher: Gweru, Zimbabwe: Mambo Press, 1991. Series: Dandaro Readers.^[8]

2. Takunda and Chipo in Storyland Forest: a tale of old and modern Zimbabwe. 90 pages. ISBN 0869225723 ISBN 978-0869225721 (Juvenile audience) Language: English Publisher: Gweru, Zimbabwe: Mambo Press, 1993. Series: Dandaro Readers.^[9][10]

3. Chinotanga mberi mashura. ISBN 0869222864 ISBN 978-0869222867 Language: Shona Publisher: Gweru, Zimbabwe: Mambo Press, 1985.^[11][12]

4. Chidamwoyo. 42 pages. ISBN 0869222163 ISBN 978-0869222164 Library of Congress: PL8681.9.M25 C5 1983 Language: Shona Publisher: Gweru, Zimbabwe: Mambo Press in association with the Literature Bureau, 1983.^[13][14]

5. Munzwa mundove. 160 pages. ISBN 978-1779003270 Language: Shona Publisher: Harare, Zimbabwe: College Press, 1999.^[15]

6. Rufu runobereka rufu. Fiction Language: Shona Publisher: Salisbury: Longman Rhodesia, 18 October 1976.^[16][17]

7. Zvinoyera. (167 pages) ISBN 0869224646 ISBN 978-0869224649 Fiction Language: Shona Publisher: Gweru: Mambo Press, 1989.^[18][19]

8. Matsvamwoyo. ISBN 1779000774 Fiction Language: Shona Publisher: Harare: College Press, 1992.^[20]

9. Mazvokuda maronda enyora. Fiction Language: Shona Publisher: Salisbury: Rhodesia Literature Bureau, 1978^[21]

10. Muroyi royera kure. 16 pages. Fiction Language: Shona Publisher: Salisbury: Rhodesia Literature Bureau, 1978.^[22]

11. Ndomene Haichemedzi. Language: Shona Publisher: Salisbury: Literature Bureau, 1980.^[23]

12. Hapana chinodyiwa chisina muzorera.

13. Hondo yechimurenga (Mambo Press. A collection from various authors)

Notable works

1. Munzwa Mundove (ZPH Publishers (Pvt) Ltd, [2004], PL8681.9.N56 M83 2004, 5383549) is one of the African Language Vernacular Materials in UCLA Libraries: Shona^[24]

2. Munzwa mundove, Chinotanga mberi mashura and Rufu runobereka rufu are school set books, for secondary schools in the Shona language examinations.^[25] Rufu runobereka rufu was the main set book in the Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Councils Shona Language Examination (Reference 3159/1) of Monday, 1 November 2004. Chinotanga mberi mashura was also the main set book for the same language in the 2016 June Session.

3. Mahanya's book Zvinoyera was runner-up in the Shona category of the 1991 Zimbabwe Literary Awards.^[26]

4. Chidamwoyo is also listed among Zimbabwe drama and plays since 1958.^[27]

5. "Chidamwoyo" and "Rufu runobereka rufu" are Morgan Mahanya's books in the George Fortune Collection. (George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)^[28]

Personal life

Morgan Mahanya is married to Rebecca and has four daughters with the last-born, Grace, a budding novelist. He lives a humble life in Zhombe, Empress Mine Ward in a village called Totororo.^[29]

See also

• Totororo Secondary School

References