Phillip Zhuwao
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Phillip Zhuwao (born 1971 - died 1997) was a Zimbabwean poet.[1]
Early life[edit]
Zhuwao grew up in an itinerant family, moving from farm to farm, as his parents were labourers. His grandfather was a Lozi from Barotseland, while his mother's people came from Mozambique. This contributed to his family's disorientation: "I have three international identities, an abnormality hard to describe."[2] As he did not go far in his education, he was a self taught writer who read obsessively.
Writing career[edit]
Though he lived a brief life, Zhuwao was a literary prodigy. He was widely published in South African literary magazines such as Bliksem, Contrast, New Coin, Staffrider, and struck up a friendship with publisher, Robert Berold, who has contributed immensely to his posthumous legacy.[3][4] His only published book, Sunrise Poison, completed in 1996, was only released 21 years after his death.[5][6] It is the first of a planned four volume collected works, which include fiction, essays, letters as well as poetry.
Zhuwao's work is also featured in Gary Cummiskey's Dye Hard Press.[7] He wrote a series of chain poems with South African poet, Alan Finlay.[8]
Publications[edit]
Sunrise Poison (Deep South, 2018)[9]
The Red Laughter of Guns in Green Summer Rain: Chainpoems with Alan Finlay (Dye Hard Press, 2002)
References[edit]
- ^ "The Poetry of Phillip Zhuwao (poet) - Zimbabwe - Poetry International". www.poetryinternational.org. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
- ^ "Phillip Zhuwao (poet) - Zimbabwe - Poetry International". www.poetryinternational.org. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
- ^ Sole, Kelwyn (1996). "Bird Hearts Taking Wing: Trends in Contemporary South African Poetry Written in English". World Literature Today. 70 (1): 25–31. doi:10.2307/40151848. ISSN 0196-3570. JSTOR 40151848.
- ^ "blank verse in freedom's thinking". skindeepmag.com. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
- ^ "Where will all my nothing go? — Selves: An Afro Anthology of Creative Nonfiction curated by Basit Jamiu". OkayAfrica. 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
- ^ Phillip, Zhuwao (2018-11-05). Sunrise Poison. Deep South. ISBN 978-0-9947104-2-0.
- ^ Bofelo, Mphutlane wa (2014-09-12). "The Weekly Dissident: Gary Cummiskey, a Dadaist, surrealist, "madhouse screamer"". The Daily Vox. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
- ^ "Enough of an Interruption". The Common. 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
- ^ "African Books Collective: Sunrise Poison". www.africanbookscollective.com. Retrieved 2021-08-11.