EXPLORING the value chain in the creative industry will help Zimbabwean writers find alternative sources of income and unlock additional opportunities for the book industry, says local creative writer, Dennis Gumi.
Gumi, a professional teacher and published writer, said the changing times requires fresh and interactive strategies to reap from the art of writing.
“I am considering film production and directing the productions. And helping in the production of other people's work. These tasks are set for the near future,” said Gumi.
He added, “Also want to address the deteriorating culture of reading.
“It’s worrying, the reading culture has since plummeted to very low levels owing to much exposure to the social media, especially among the modern and this has been coupled by wide and high records of piracy eroding our gains as writers and publishers,” said Gumi.
Worried about the collapsed culture of reading, the Gweru based writer reader's tastes were drifting from traditional African catalogue and Victorian literature.
“Youths, if at all there could be readers to talk about, they can be salvaged from among the middle and old-aged who still reminisce reading the works of Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Chinuaa Achebe, Charles Dickens, Sir Henry Rider Haggard, Gerald Durrel, Thomas Hardy, William Shakespeare, Alan Parton and many others, worldwide,” he said.
Gumi is currently promoting his newly published novel titled “Recipe for Disaster (2023).”
- Gumi’s book addresses boys’ concerns
- Gumi’s book addresses boys’ concerns
- Gumi ventures into filming to counter piracy
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Speaking of the newly published novel, Gumi said: “The main theme is centered on certain thinking patterns by a young man who happens to be the main character of the novel which spells disaster in the end.
“Of course, there are other characters whose personal choices are disastrous if looked at through a sane mind. In the process of exploring the thinking patterns which are a recipe for disaster, the novel highlights how the girl child lands herself in child prostitution,” he said.
“Recipe for Disaster” looks at an issue which the media, the law enforcement mechanism, the judiciary and the government department of Social Welfare are seemingly turning a blind eye on. In places around mining communities the girl child has fallen prey to the artisan miners resulting in a large number of girls leaving school at a tender age.
The book further explores cases of juvenile delinquency which can be contained if teachers and parents are properly empowered to tackle the vices, while emigration of some parents into the diaspora has left an ugly state of affairs in a society that had always been an envy of many.
And despite talk against child abuse, many cases of the same still remain a dark figure that should be dealt with collectively.
Just like other known writers from Gweru such as Ignatius Musonza, Dr. Nhamo Mhiripiri, Dr, Tinashe Mushakavanhu, Bornventure Honzero and late Shimmer Chinodya among other writers, Gumi has become a modern oriented writer with the determination to carry the button forward.
Born on 30 November 1968, Dennis went to school in Zaka District of Masvingo Province (then Victoria Province). He went to Dzoro Secondary School. After failing to proceed for his advanced level (A Level), he turned to temporary teaching in the same district and developed a passion for teaching English Language.
After completing Diploma in Education at Mutare Teachers' College in 1993, ( specialising in English and Religious Studies). he immediately applied to the University of Zimbabwe for for B.Ed English, but was turned down. Five times he applied between 1995 and 1999 and five times he got turned down. The passion to study did not leave him. In 2002, he completed a Diploma in Personnel Management (IPMZ) in a show of frustration and punctured zeal. Between 2002 and 2004, he studied for a Bachelor of Technology: Education: Management with Technikon Pretoria and then MBA in 2006 with Azaliah University.
His contribution to the country’s education sector is very sound. In 2018, he worked with Secondary Books Press in their endeavor to published education books and he co-authored “A Practical Approach to English Form 2 (2018), O Level Revision guide, (2020) English revision guides forgot Grade 7, Grade 6 and Grade 5.
Since 2019, Gumi supported the country educational growth as an external development editor for SBP.
Gumi turned to creative writing and penned Abortive Future (2021) published by (Dream Discovery Publishers) and Recipe for Disaster (2023) is his new offering.
