VOICES FROM THE WILDERNESS: ZIMBABWEAN DIASPORA LITERATURE AN EMERGING CATEGORY

Abstract

This article draws attention to the existence and emergence of a body of fictional works  produced on Zimbabwe’s Diaspora between the years from 2000 to 2014.  It is the contention  of the article that these literary works represent an emerging category within the general  canon  of  Zimbabwean  literature  called  Zimbabwean  Diaspora  literature.  Through  the  application of existing conceptual and theoretical frameworks based on key characteristics  of  diasporic  writings,  the  article  concludes  that  Zimbabwean  Diaspora  literature  is  in  its   embryonic  stage  of  development  since  it  typically  exhibits  not  only  the  common  features   attributed to diasporic writings, but it also possess the characteristic features often ascribed  to  a  young  diaspora. The  article  does  not  attempt  to  offer  a  rule  of  thumb  definition  of  Zimbabwean Diaspora literature, for the simple reasons that Zimbabwean Diaspora literature  is  still  very  much  in  its  infancy;  it  is  a  canon  of  literary  works  still  growing  steadily;  still  establishing its form, message, primary ideologies and identities. Thus, to offer a prescriptive  or restrictive label to define the discourse is subjective and premature.  It would be a travesty  against the artistic enterprise as it only serves to stifle the creative imagination of the artist  and  to  curtail  the  objective  insights  of  the  literary  critic.  In  essence,  therefore,  the  article  seeks to draw attention to, rather than limit understanding of, this literary discourse called  Zimbabwean Diaspora literature. However, there are features and characteristics exhibited  by said literary discourse which have guided and informed the understanding of the article  as to what constitutes Zimbabwean Diaspora literature.