Zim Prolific Poet and Novelist Chenjerai Hove dies

Chenjerai Hove

Reports say renowned poet and novelist, Chenjerai Hove (56) has died in Norway.

Contacted for comment, Hove's son, Jabulani refused to disclose any details, telling the ZBC News to 'let the family mourn in peace and allow them time to decide as a family.'

Hove was born in Mazvihwa near Zvishavane in 1956 and attended school at Kutama College and Marist Brothers in Dete, near Hwange.

He became a teacher and then took degrees at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and the University of Zimbabwe. He has also worked as a journalist, and contributed to the anthology 'And Now the Poets Speak.'

Hove has published numerous novels, poetry anthologies and collections of essays and reflections.

His publications include:

•   And Now the Poets Speak (co-editor; poetry), 1981
•   Up In Arms (poetry), Harare: Zimbabwe Publishing House, 1982
•   Red Hills of Home (poetry), 1984; Gweru: Mambo Press, 1985.
•   Bones (novel), Harare: Baobab Books, 1988; Heineman International AWS, 1989. ISBN 0-435-90576-7
•   Shadows (novel), Harare: Baobab Books, 1991; Heinemann International Literature and Textbooks, 1992. ISBN 0-435-90591-0
•   Shebeen Tales: Messages from Harare (journalistic essays), Harare: Baobab Books/London: Serif, 1994
•   Rainbows in the Dust (poetry), 1997
•   Guardians of the Soil (cultural reflections by Zimbabwe's elders), 1997. ISBN 0-908311-88-5
•   Ancestors (novel), 1997. ISBN 0-330-34490-0
•   Desperately Seeking Europe (co-author; essays on European identity), 2003
•   Palaver Finish, essays on politics and life in Zimbabwe, 2003
•   Blind Moon (poetry), 2004. ISBN 1-77922-019-7
•   The Keys of Ramb (children's story), 2004

Honours and awards

•   1983 Special Commendations for the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa, for Up in Arms
•   1984 Inaugural President, Zimbabwe Writers Union
•   1988 Winner, Zimbabwe Literary Award, for Bones
•   1989 Winner, Noma Award for Publishing In Africa, for Bones
•   1990 Founding Board Member, Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (Zimrights)
•   1991-94 Writer-in-Residence, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
•   1994 Visiting Professor, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon, USA
•   1995 Guest Writer, Yorkshire and Humberside Arts and Leeds University, UK
•   1996 Guest Writer, Heinrich Böll Foundation, Germany
•   1998 Second Prize, Zimbabwe Literary Award, for Ancestors
•   2001 German-Africa Prize for literary contribution to freedom of expression
•   2007-08 International Writers Project Fellow, Brown University 

Source: ZBC