The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Life Correspondent
AT the age of 14 most pupils would still be thinking of a career to pursue and struggling with their composition in English class, but a Christian Brothers’ College Form Three pupil has already published a book and another one is four months away.
Mukudziishe Madzivire’s passion for the arts and young people has seen him aim at using the craft to address issues affecting the youth.
In his 87-page book that is a mixture of prose and poetry, Madzivire talks about child marriages, youth advocacy and child abuse.
Despite being young, the pupil said he was not deterred in penning his book as it came natural to him.
The book, Inscriptions was inspired by the need to reach out on issues affecting the youth and hopefully contribute towards their extinction.
“I think we need creative ways in solving problems that affect the youth. I think it is easier for young people to become involved in issues affecting them if they are presented in a creative manner that engage them.
“I was looking at these challenges and asking myself how youths can be made aware of them at an early age and then also playing a role in solving these problems.
“I hope the book inspires the youth to become more involved in finding solutions to the challenges they are facing,” said Madzivire.
His passion for the arts developed at a tender age when he joined the school choir at Masiye School where he was doing his primary school education. After featuring as the lead character in a school musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Coat, he won a British Council-funded scholarship to study at the Academy of Music in Bulawayo where he studied piano, vocals and the trumpet.
His year of musical study nurtured the creative being in him and saw him also write more as he developed love for writing.
While he still plays the piano and is a music composer, he has become more focused on writing poetry, prose and plays.
Inscriptions was published by Billionaire Publishers and contains a foreword by Primary and Secondary Education minister, Prof Paul Mavima.
“He (Madzivire) tackles topics ranging from child rights, environmental protection, sustainable development for eternity, the rights of women, family, religion and a lot more.
“He engages these issues sometimes with a playfulness that is reflective of his age, but most of the time with a deep philosophical sense that says here is a young man to whose talent, even the sky is not the limit,” reads part of the foreword.
The book contains five short stories, 22 poems and a motivational piece.
Madzivire said he is inspired by the support his parents have given him in pursuing the arts since he won the scholarship and would be releasing his next book, which focuses on the effects of genocide and conflict on children around the world, in April.
“I am yet to decide on whether to pursue the arts as a career after school but it will be between the creative sector and being a diplomat.
“The book is available at Book and Bean bookshop in Bradfield while those seeking huge orders can contact me,” he said.
