US anthology publishes Ndongolera’s poems
At a time when local musicians are receiving international recognition through nominations for various awards, local poets have not been left behind.
Mzuzu-based poet Ndongolera Mwangupili has been recognised internationally by Mountain Springs, a publishing house based in the United States.
The publisher has selected his poems Upon Facing the Moon, Abysm and In the Queue for Relief Maize for publication in an anthology titled Free Fall.
According to a letter dated October 26 2014 which On the Arts has seen, Mwangupili is supposed to surrender rights of ownership over the poems for “Mountain Springs to publish [his] work in Free Fall.”
The book is to be published by end of this year, but we have its draft copy.
In an interview, Mwangupili said the recognition is a breakthrough for contemporary poets.
“There was an outcry that present poets are not being published internationally. We were talking of the old writers only. But this is a good sign for new writers that our writings can also be recognised internationally,” he said.
Mwangupili advised contemporary writers to target international audience if Malawian literature is to be exposed.
“We should try to see beyond borders and not target Malawians only,” said Mwangupili, who is also senior inspector of schools in the Northern Education Division.
Early this year through various outlets, Mountain Springs called for submissions of poems for publication. Mwangupili submitted three poems and all of them were selected.
He is one of the 15 contributors for the anthology, which has 33 poems.
The majority of the authors are Zimbabweans.
Others are from Nigeria, Norway and South Africa.
Writing in the preface of the book, editor Karen O’Leary said they want the book to reach out to the world for inspiration and encouragement of human beings.
“As writers, we have a chance to reach out to the world—to inspire and lift up others. Communicating thought in a concise and creative way, we can make a difference,” said O’Leary.
Mwangupili has been published several times both internationally and locally.
His poem Love has been published this year in a Belgium-based anthology titled The Aquillrelle Wall of Poetry of passion and romance.
His other poem Letters to a Comrade was published last year by an Indian online journal Open Road Review whereas several of his poems have appeared in The Whispers.
Presently, he plans to publish his manuscript titled Fragments of the Broken Voice.
“The manuscript is ready, but I’m now talking with some publishers both in Malawi and outside,” he said.
“But my main priority is to publish it outside because this gives you exposure. If Malawian poetry is to reach at another level, we need to sell it outside the country. Readership of poems is high outside than here in Malawi,” he added.
Mwangupili’s poems address various themes such as love, poverty, womanhood, joy and procreation.
