AWARD-WINNING Bulawayo-based author Bryony Rheam has called upon the corporate world to sponsor Zimbabwean literature saying she feels that local literature needs a real boost.
She suggested a literature prize, which would promote Zimbabwean authors and literature to be well known saying such an accolade would show that they value literature in the country.
Rheam told Standard Style that many countries across the world offer literary awards.
“It may be for a short story or for a novel. These awards mean something both in terms of status and monetary value. The writers in these countries have something to aim towards and are, therefore, always trying to improve their writing skills. If they apply for scholarships or to attend writing workshops elsewhere in the world, they have something substantial on their CVs to prove that they are of high calibre. "It is very difficult to be a writer and hold down a full time job. In Zimbabwe, this is doubly difficult because of the economic instability of the country,” she said.
Rheam added that a prize with a substantial monetary value would, therefore, be able to help struggling writers take time off from their work to concentrate on their writing.
“I feel that Zimbabwean literature needs a real boost. The writers, who are doing well more often than not live outside the country and have access to grants and scholarships in the countries that they live in. "Sometimes it is hard for our writers to enter writing competitions in which there is an entry fee. A new Zimbabwean literary prize would give our writers something to aim towards and therefore be looking to improve their work,” she said.
Rheam said sponsorship would help promote Zimbabwean authors and literature to be well known and a prize would show that they value literature in the country.
“A prize would help Zimbabwean authors become more well-known. "Even in our own country, writers are relatively unknown. A prize would show that we value literature in our country and would encourage Zimbabweans to read Zimbabwean works. This would also help to promote our writers internationally. As a writer myself, I have experienced some of the setbacks I have mentioned. I have always had to work as a teacher and write. That is not easy," she said.
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“I have won the Bulawayo Arts Awards once and the National Arts Merit Award and, while I have been grateful for the money received, it has not been enough to substantially change my life. I know other writers in places like Nigeria who have won enough money to give up their jobs and become full time writers.
“The BAA and the NAMA are also not focused on writing in particular and I feel it would be good to have a literature prize. I also know that there are writers out there who are struggling. The result is that we are not seeing any really good writers because they cannot focus entirely on their work."
