Paul Chidyausiku

Paul Chidyausiku was born in 1927 in Chinamora, Domboshawa near Harare (Salisbury). He is a grandson of Chief Chinamora (paternal) and Chief Chiweshe (maternal). His brother Godfrey Chidyausiku is the Chief Justice of Zimbabwe. His writings are deep-rooted in Shona traditions, as demonstrated by his reverence for an African mother. A novelist, playwright, poet and journalist, he is known for his Shona novels, plays and poetry — some of which won awards in Zimbabwe.

Chidyausiku went to an Agricultural College and taught Agriculture for many years before he went back to school to train as a journalist at the London School of Journalism in England.

He worked for Mambo Press as an Editor; moved on to the Literature Bureau as an Editorial Officer. He next moved on to the Ministry of Information as Assistant Director, Branch of Foreign Services. He was later invited to join Zimbabwe Newspapers to pioneer a newspaper in Shona called ‘Kwayedza’.

The poet was one of the first few Shona writers to be published in Zimbabwe in the fifties and is still writing. He has had nine books published in Shona – one of which is a collection of Shona poems which won him an award, and one in English – Broken Roots. Some of his poems in English were included in anthologies like Voices from Africa published in England, A Century Of Poetry In Southern Africa, an anthology in Australia, one in Namibia and two in Zimbabwe.

Bibliography:

• Broken Roots (1991), Mambo Press, Gweru
• Karumekangu (1970), Longman Zimbabwe
• Kuyaruka Kwomukomana (1991), Mambo Press, Gweru
• Kuyaruka Kwomusikana (1991), Mambo Press, Gweru
• Kuziva Mbuya Huudzwa: Kurera Nokurumura (1967), Mambo Press, Gweru
• Ndakambokuyambira (1990), Mambo Press, Gweru
• Ndakambokuyambira; I warned You Before (1968), Mambo Press, Gweru
• Nhoroondo Dzokuwanana (1958), Oxford University Press
• Nyadzi Dzinokunda Rufu (1975), Oxford University Press
• Pfungwa DzaSekuru Mafusire (1960), Catholic Mission Press, Gweru