“Long Time Coming”, the fourth book in the prize-winning series of short stories and poems by Bulawayo based amaBooks, derives its title from a song by an Afro-American Sam Cooke at the height of the civil rights movement in the United States of America. The title of the song was ‘Change is Going To Come’.

The scintillating and no-holds barred literary offering brings together thirty three writers who penned short stories and poems that aptly capture the mood and times in Zimbabwe today. It is an important milestone in what award winning writer John Eppel describes as the sordid school of Zimbabwean writing.

Describing the book, a literary critic from The Zimbabwean had this to say about it: “Carrying on the tradition of the previous amaBooks Short Writings collections, the book provides ‘insights into the current Zimbabwean consciousness. It is dynamic, real, seasoned with humour and bursting with creative writing’”

The collection features better known writers such as John Eppel, Ignatius Mabasa, Judy Maposa, Christopher Mlalazi, Raisedon Baya, Pathisa Nyathi, Mzana Mthimkhulu and Julius Chingono, Thabisani Ndlovu.

There are a number of writers who are being published for the first time-an indication of how the Culture Fund is availing such writers with a golden opportunity to immortalize their creativity through the printed word. Among the writers in this category were Gothataone Moeng and Wame Molefe of Botswana.

British ambassador to Zimbabwe, Andrew Pocock has a poem titled, ‘Hwange’

Also featured in the collection are overseas writers from Wales and England most of whom have featured during the past Intwsa Arts Festivals, such as Lloyd Robson and Owen Sheers.

Professor Brian Jones, co-owner of amaBooks, introduced the collection to the large crowd comprising people of diverse interests and backgrounds,” The book is a depiction of the life of Zimbabweans at this difficult time,” said the humorous professor.

In his presentation that was interspersed with readings by some of the writers with works in the collection, Professor Jones read excerpts from the book that excerpts encapsulate the hard times painted by the writers in the book.

Selected writers also read from their works- The Awards Ceremony Eppel, Echoes of Silence by Baya and Not Slaves to Fashion by Mthimkhulu. Sean Maseko read Lloyd Robson’s piece titled Rum and Still Waters.

The Culture Fund has been supporting Amabooks, strengthening their capacity as one of the prominent and well established publishers in Bulawayo for the benefit of the literary arts.