Harare North [SEP] narrative location
Harare North
Harare North is a novel by the Zimbabwean author Brian Chikwava, winner of the Caine Prize in 2004. The novel was published by Jonathan Cape in 2009. A French translation was published by Editions Zoe in 2011.
Explanation of the novel's title.
After a decade of emigration, Zimbabweans now refer to London as Harare North. The novel being political, the title alludes to
- a relocation of power from Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, along with the exodus of Zimbabweans
- the '
created a compelling protagonist, whose back-to-front English and spiky argot throw up sly, acidly comic observations", while Margaret Busby wrote in "The Independent": "Chikwava has the talent to find lightness and comedy in the darkest desperation, drawing humour even out of wretchedness...occasionally among novelists one comes across a voice so distinctive...that it grips in an unforgettable way. For me, Chikwava looks set to be in that category. From first page to last, the vernacular narrative of Harare North is