RENOWNED archivist and historian, Joyce Jenje-Makwenda, has described broadcast, journalist-cum-author, Tendai “The Sweet Thaaang” Chakanyuka as a brave woman following the launch of the latter’s memoir on Sunday, which offers an unvarnished gaze into her life.
The memoir, The Sweet Thaaang: It’s an Attitude, was published by Royalty Books, and traces Chakanyuka’s life from childhood to the present moment.
Jenje-Makwenda saluted Chakanyuka for braving the fear associated with subjecting one’s life to public scrutiny.
“You know, you are very brave… It’s not easy to go into yourself and say to people, this is who I am. The good thing about how Tendai wrote this book is that she did not sugar-coat anything. She just wrote as it is,” she said.
Jenje-Makwenda said Chakanyuka’s memoir challenged societal structures as the author detailed how she often refused to conform to traditional norms that she did not understand.
The author, she said, had through her new publication enriched the body of knowledge on arts, culture and broadcasting.
During a question and answer session with the master of ceremonies, Tich Mataz, Chakanyuka said the launch of her book was the materialisation of a dream that born seven years ago, but experienced a lot of hiccups along the way.
“The dream was born about seven years ago when I embarked on the book, but in between, I think I dropped the ball,” she said.
- Broadcaster Chakanyuka launches memoir
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“But in the last two years, when I said I needed to sit down and get this out of the way, I managed to finish it. I think it’s really been amazing and I’ll do it again.”
Chakanyuka shared some of the memories that enriched her story as the book traces her love for music, sport and pageantry — which is captured in her memoir — since childhood.
She also shares how her radio name “The Sweet Thaaang” came about in very awkward circumstances during a bust-up with another well-known former broadcaster.
The book’s editor, Phillip Chidavaenzi, commended Chakanyuka for releasing the book, saying there was a need for more local journalists to publish books as is the trend across the globe. He said the book contained many life lessons drawn from the author’s experiences.
