Ignatius Mabasa's novel Mapenzi, originally written in Shona and published in 1998, is now being translated into English as The Mad, marking a significant milestone for Zimbabwean and African literature in translation.

This translation effort is part of a broader initiative to address the historical neglect of African-language writing in global literature, encouraging a reevaluation of the African literary canon and promoting linguistic diversity.

African literature is undergoing a notable shift as more works originally written in African languages are being translated into English to reach wider audiences, challenging the dominance of European languages in African literary translation.

The translation of The Mad exemplifies how such efforts help preserve the richness of African languages and invite a rethinking of what constitutes African literature, celebrating its vibrant vernacular imagination.

Mabasa, an advocate for indigenous African languages, has written a PhD in Shona and translated other notable works, emphasizing that African languages are vibrant mediums for complex artistic expression.

The translation of Mapenzi highlights how such efforts serve as a form of decolonization, expanding the global visibility of African literature and challenging its marginalization in international publishing.

The University of Georgia Press has launched a new series called African Language Literatures in Translation, aiming to translate significant African works from languages like Shona, Kiswahili, and Sesotho into English, with forthcoming titles from Zanzibar, Kenya, and Lesotho.

The translation of The Mad by J. Tsitsi Mutiti has been skillful in maintaining Mabasa’s poetic and rhythmic prose, although some literal translation issues in dialogue were noted, with the translator's role remaining somewhat invisible.

Mapenzi is a landmark Shona novel that explores themes of disillusionment, societal collapse, and false promises of independence in Zimbabwe, influenced stylistically by prominent Zimbabwean writers.