Samuel Chimsoro Explained

Samuel Chimsoro (13 February 1949 – 6 July 2016) was a Zimbabwean poet and novelist who published in both English and Shona.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Early life and education

Chimsoro was born on 13 February 1949,^[4] in Mrewa in the Mashonaland East Province of Zimbabwe (then known as Rhodesia).^[5] He attended Nyatsime College, the first privately black owned secondary school in Zimbabwe. He then trained as a laboratory technician with a focus on radiation detection. He worked for the government of Zimbabwe before moving to the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).^[4]

Career

Chimsoro published his first volume of poetry, Smoke and Flames, in 1978. In the same year he published a Shona-language short story, "Hoyiyo ne Hohwa", which would later be used for instruction in primary schools.^[5] These were followed by Nothing is Impossible, a novel inspired by the life of Paul Mukondo,^[4] in 1983, and the Shona poetry collection Dama rekutanga: muunganidzwa wenhetembo (Dama rekutanga: the first promise) in 1990. Chimsoro's works deal with themes of colonialism, racial discrimination, and Zimbabwean politics.^{[5] [6]}

Death

Chimsoro died on 6 July 2016 in Umgugu Village, Zhombe, Zimbabwe.^[4]

Bibliography

• Smoke and Flames: Poems (Mambo Press, 1978)^[7]
• Nothing is Impossible (Longman, 1983)^[8]
• Dama rekutanga: muunganidzwa wenhetembo (College Press, 1990)^[9]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mutonho, Shingirai. October 9, 2014. Poems that fuelled the liberation struggle. The Patriot. 2021-04-20. en-US.
2. A bibliography of Zimbabwean poets. Warren, Crystal. 2007. English in Africa. 34. 2. . ProQuest. en.
3. Web site: Muchemwa, Kizito Z. 2008. An Overview of Post-Independence Zimbabwean Poetry. Poetry International. 2021-04-20.
4. Web site: . Tribute to poet, novelist Chimsoro. February 3, 2017. 2021-04-20. The Herald (Zimbabwe). en-GB.
5. Book: Killam. Douglas. Rowe. Ruth. The companion to African literatures. 2000. James Currey. 68. 0-85255-549-0.
6. Book: 2008. Roscoe, Adrian. The Columbia Guide to Central African Literature in English Since 1945. Columbia University Press. 97–98. 9780231503792.
7. Book: Chimsoro, Samuel. Smoke and Flames: Poems. 1978. Mambo Press. en.
8. Book: Chimsoro, Samuel. Nothing is Impossible. 1983. Longman. 978-0-582-78570-0. en.
9. Book: Chimsoro, Samuel. Dama rekutanga: muunganidzwa wenhetembo. 1990. College Press. 978-0-86925-979-5. sn.