For as much has been written by Zimbabwean writers, the Zimbabwean story is one with still more stories to tell. This is not only in relation to its past but its present and even future. In Yvette Lisa Ndlovu's speculative debut anthology, she dives into the historical and the now, exploring narratives around Zimbabwean culture and the pain of a nation with women as the main characters.
Yet as much as the themes themselves are powerful, it is the writer's storytelling that makes Drinking From Graveyard Wells what it is. It presents stories of migration, poverty, the misogynistic of indigenous cultures and oppression, with an undercurrent of the fantastical and supernatural.
A clash of worlds that can be best described as NoViolet Bulawayo meets J.K. Rowling. Somber and poignant, but with a refreshing perspective that speaks to the nature of the Zimbabwean spirit.
Second Place Is the First Loser both questions our own view of our culture and capitalism as a concept, the latter being reflected on again in The Carnivore's Lollipop.
"Baba cleared his throat when the video ended. He was frowning. Chad looked at us expectantly. 'Dineo,' Baba said. 'Why didn’t you tell our guest that David Livingstone didn’t discover the falls?' The shame that overcame me was like heartburn. The disappointed look in Baba’s eyes stung. Baba was going to go into a long lecture about history again." - excerpt from Second Place Is the First Loser
The Friendship Bench features a traditional healer with a talent for attaching devices of escapism, in some regard a mirror to Zimbabwe's current substance abuse epidemic. Ugly Hamsters: A Triptych focuses on black tax, depicting it as a never ending pit, with a lesson on learning boundaries, while Turtle Heart is the tale of a supernatural dictatorship.
All through Drinking From Graveyard Wells' 14 stories there is a sense of emotion rooted in realism, even though the stories explore alternate planes of existence. The pacing makes for a suspenseful read, but Yvette Lisa Ndlovu's writing is perfectly suited for that. Key being the writer's ability to hook you in from the first paragraph.
"A rainbow arches in the sky during my grandmother's funeral. My tears must be the rain that invited the rainbow here. I tell it to go away. Its beauty is vulgar on such a terrible day as this." - excerpt from The Soul Would Have No Rainbow
Beyond having women as main characters the writer takes a moment to reflect on how women are treated in Zimbabwean society, both the powerful and the seemingly powerless. While it may be debatable what this collection's best story is, it's most powerful moment is Plumtree: True Stories. The short story reflects on the violative practices Zimbabwean culture places on womanhood and their ripple effects.
On the opposite end Three Deaths and The Ocean of Time tells the tale of Queen Lozikeyi, a powerful figure often forgotten by the writers of Zimbabwe's history books. This dive into the past is complimented by Water Bites Back, a tale of land rights, indigenous spirituality and conservation.
Drinking From Graveyard Welld is diverse in narratives yet unified in storytelling. Yvette Lisa Ndlovu confronts difficult subjects head on, while infusing wit into her storytelling, which makes for compelling tales. It is brilliantly written in its depiction of the Zimbabwean story both home and abroad, and just the right the read for any fan of literature, no matter the genre.
Title: Drinking From Graveyard Wells
Authors: Yvette Lisa Ndlovu
Genre: Fiction
P ublisher: The University Press of Kentucky