Overview by Paul Lothane
Although the outstanding Zimbabwean writer, Dambudzo
Marechera, died so young (at only 35) he had already cemented himself as one of Africa's all-time distinguished writers. Marechera was a novelist, short story
writer, poet, and playwright. He was also a polished reviewer of diverse books
during his lifetime.
His novel, Black
Sunlight was published in his lifetime. His publishers pointed out that he
"used language without inhibitions", and so it is in Black Sunlight. The following excerpts/quotations
come from the work:
"fiery bush of cloud, fierce rays, vermillion
in vivid colours" (i.e the sun) "the wrinkled curl of the lip around
the rim of squalor" "the falcon beat its wings of
cymbals".
"You are dragged over hot coals of vision
by the third leg. It's all things to all men, but basically we are it. We are
the great cunt. Whatever you
do, think, feel, aspire to, it's dictated by the great cunt".
do, think, feel, aspire to, it's dictated by the great cunt".
"Prometheus hurling defiance at Zeus even as he
watches vultures
engorge themselves on his chained body".
engorge themselves on his chained body".
(Prometheus,
one of the early deities, The Titans, having created man from clay, gave him
fire - stealing from Olympus - against Zeus' wishes. Zeus chained Prometheus on
Mount Caucasus where his entrails were continually fed upon by a
vulture).
"I am astonished by the audience's
ignorance" (said Nick, a lecturer) "I did not expect such a low
cultural level among you. Those who do not understand my work are simply illiterate..."
Other
works by Marechera
House
of Hunger
Black
Insider
Mindblast
Cemetery
of mind
Scrapiron
Blues
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