Brian Chikwava
Encyclopedia
Brian Chikwava is an African writer. His short story Seventh Street Alchemy was awarded the 2004 Caine Prize for African Writing and Chikwava became the first Zimbabwean to do so. He has been a Charles Pick fellow at the University of East Anglia
, and lives in London. He continues to write in England and put out an album titled Jacaranda Skits.
was published in 2009 through Jonathan Cape
. Reviews have so far been positive with Mary Fitzgerald of the New Statesman writing that "in bringing to life the plight of those often marginalised by mainstream society, [Chikwava] has opened up a bleak, yet urgently important, social landscape". She also praises his "wit and suggestiveness" something that Tod Wodicka, author of All Shall Be Well, agrees with writing that "page by page, line by line, [Chikwava] has created a perfectly original and true narrative voice... full of surprises, delicious little tics, and real fire-in-the-belly creativity... but importantly, the voice comes off as effortless, and therefore true… it’s a major accomplishment".
Trevor Lewis of The Sunday Times wrote that “Chikwava has created a compelling protagonist, whose back-to-front English and spiky argot throw up sly, acidly comic observations.” Whilst Margaret Busby of The Independent has written that “Chikwava has the talent to find lightness and comedy in the darkest desperation, drawing humour even out of wretchedness … occasionally among novelists one comes across a voice so distinctive … that it grips in an unforgettable way. For me, Chikwava looks set to be in that category. From first page to last, the vernacular narrative of Harare North is arresting, haunting, exciting, funny.”
Speaking about Zimbabwe and the reception he believes his book will receive Chikwava says that "the Zimbabwe I knew no longer exists. The book will be published there but no one will buy it. No one buys books now. They are no longer a priority".
He will also be partaking in the Bush Theatre
's 2011 project Sixty Six where he has written a piece based upon a chapter of the King James Bible
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
, and lives in London. He continues to write in England and put out an album titled Jacaranda Skits.
Writing
His first novel Harare NorthHarare North
Harare North is a novel by the Zimbabwean author Brian Chikwava, winner of the Caine Prize in 2004. The novel was published by Jonathan Cape in 2009. A French translation was published by Editions Zoe in 2011.-Explanation of the novel's title:...
was published in 2009 through Jonathan Cape
Jonathan Cape
Jonathan Cape was a London-based publisher founded in 1919 as "Page & Co" by Herbert Jonathan Cape , formerly a manager at Duckworth who had worked his way up from a position of bookshop errand boy. Cape brought with him the rights to cheap editions of the popular author Elinor Glyn and sales of...
. Reviews have so far been positive with Mary Fitzgerald of the New Statesman writing that "in bringing to life the plight of those often marginalised by mainstream society, [Chikwava] has opened up a bleak, yet urgently important, social landscape". She also praises his "wit and suggestiveness" something that Tod Wodicka, author of All Shall Be Well, agrees with writing that "page by page, line by line, [Chikwava] has created a perfectly original and true narrative voice... full of surprises, delicious little tics, and real fire-in-the-belly creativity... but importantly, the voice comes off as effortless, and therefore true… it’s a major accomplishment".
Trevor Lewis of The Sunday Times wrote that “Chikwava has created a compelling protagonist, whose back-to-front English and spiky argot throw up sly, acidly comic observations.” Whilst Margaret Busby of The Independent has written that “Chikwava has the talent to find lightness and comedy in the darkest desperation, drawing humour even out of wretchedness … occasionally among novelists one comes across a voice so distinctive … that it grips in an unforgettable way. For me, Chikwava looks set to be in that category. From first page to last, the vernacular narrative of Harare North is arresting, haunting, exciting, funny.”
Speaking about Zimbabwe and the reception he believes his book will receive Chikwava says that "the Zimbabwe I knew no longer exists. The book will be published there but no one will buy it. No one buys books now. They are no longer a priority".
He will also be partaking in the Bush Theatre
Bush Theatre
The Bush Theatre is based in Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 above The Bush public house by Brian McDermott, and has since become one of the most celebrated new writing theatres in the world. An intimate venue renowned for its close-up...
's 2011 project Sixty Six where he has written a piece based upon a chapter of the King James Bible