Samantha is a bilingual poet, novelist, librettist, screenplay and short story writer, translator and visual artist who grew up in Masvingo. She resides in Wales, usually writing about matters of the heart, the human condition, the migrant experience, womanhood and equality. She has published a poetry collection in chiKaranga, Zvadzugwa Musango, which she translated into English as Uprooted; a novel, Painting a Mirage; and another poetry collection, Starfish Blossoms, which won the National Arts Merit Award for Outstanding Poetry Book in 2023. Some of her poems appear in Ipikai Poetry Journal, and her visual art in Writing Woman Anthology – An anthology of African Asian Writers and Artists Vol.3 published by Mwanaka Media and Publishing.

In 2020 Samantha established an independent press, Carnelian Heart Publishing, to amplify the voices of Zimbabwean writers. As editor and publisher, Samantha has produced various works comprising literary prose and poetry, including two anthologies of short stories by Zimbabwean writers – Turquoise Dreams and Brilliance of Hope, with two of her own short stories, ‘Barcode’ and ‘Tariro’, in the latter. Tesserae: A mosaic of poems by Zimbabwean women is her latest project, to which she contributed six poems.

Cynthia Marangwanda is a Zimbabwean prose writer and poet. Her grandfather, J.W. Marangwanda, was one of the earliest published African writers during Zimbabwe’s colonial period. This led to Cynthia taking an interest in literature at a young age. She became active in the local spoken-word poetry scene before embarking on writing prose. Her work is influenced by unorthodox, alternative and disruptive thought and ideas. It is mainly concerned with the intersections and conflicts between the traditional and the modern, the local and the global, the spiritual and the material. She is married with a son.

Charity…

What inspires you to write poetry?

I’m inspired by the process itself. I enjoy the process of writing and creating beauty out of everyday life.

How does it make you feel to be part of a published anthology?

I’m pleased to be part of this anthology. I feel it was God’s gentle reminder to be more intentional about investing time in writing, and fully utilizing my gifting.

Do you face any challenges as a Zimbabwean woman poet?

There are fewer publishing opportunities than one would hope. I know some who have gone down the self-publishing route and have found it incredibly challenging.

Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started to where you are today.

I started writing in junior school. I later transitioned into writing poetry for performance, which is great fun. During this process, I found some of my pieces didn’t translate well on stage but worked wonderfully when read, and digested slowly, and so began the process of collecting poems which worked well on the page. I started submitted my poems to various literary journals with good success, leading up to my first chapbook, “Undressing Under a Noon Sun” which was published as part of the New Generation African Poets by APBF. I am now gradually working towards a longer collection.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

I want my work to be remembered for giving unique and curious perspectives on everyday occurrences, and for demonstrating ‘consummate poetic skills’ in the words of Marian Christie. This compliment from Tesserae’s editor really captured the essence of all my efforts and stuck with me.

Would you like to share anything about yourself to help your readers connect with you?

The current season in my life is about learning acceptance, of self, of others, of life’s tumults. I am breaking out of the prison of idealism. And I use this term intentionally, because this prison does not let you go easily, it would seek to imprison you for life. One has to fight to escape its confines and tyranny just to simply be and enjoy who he/she is without the mourning for who they feel they ought to be.

Who is your favourite poet and why?

I cannot say I have a favourite poet. I have favourite poems, poems I love for the artful way they were written, or which I resonate deeply with, but no one favourite poet.

What are your future writing aspirations?

I hope to finish my full-length poetry collection whenever I get there. I won’t put time frames. I hope to do more live readings/performances. This is something I have not been able to do much of lately.

What is your biggest dream?

I can’t answer this presently. I feel I am in a transition period. I’m taking stock of my life and reevaluating my current course. I feel there is a lot of change on the horizon, even ‘the dream’ is changing.

Siphathisiwe…
What inspires you to write poetry?

I love to say poetry saved my life. The beauty of poetry itself inspires me to write. Poetry allows me to document experiences that might have otherwise gone untold. It allows me to express uncomfortable conversations boldly, and the mere fact that such a channel to express oneself fully exists has been my biggest inspiration. Society inspires me too, most of the poetry I write I’d a result of the different conversations I have had with different people.

How does it make you feel to be part of a published anthology?

Oh; I am super excited. I feel really lucky that I have finally become part of this writing community of amazing Zimbabwean female writers. That was not something I had imagined happening to me this year or anytime soon. I am grateful for the opportunity to grow as a poet and I really cannot wait to have everyone read our amazing content.

Do you face any challenges as a Zimbabwean woman poet?

I would not say the challenges I have faced are only confined to female poets. But yes, as a poet who is more inclined to written poetry and not to spoken word poetry, getting people to actually read my poetry has been a struggle. This is usually because of the poor reading culture in Zimbabwe I guess.

The other challenge I have faced as a female poet is when exploring bold but not often comfortable themes in our Zimbabwean culture, like sex or parent-children relationships. There are certain boundaries you are just not allowed to cross, or you might be given nasty labels, yet I believe this limits our creativity and exploring the difficult topics. Being a poet should allow one to be comfortable with the often uncomfortable, yet our environment is not yet conducive to that.

Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started to where you are today.

I started writing stories before poetry, when I was 8 or 9. Writing was and has always been an escape from some of my lived realities. I remember that as a child, when my cousins and I played house, I wrote our house plays.

Then I discovered poetry by accident. I remember waiting for an exam and feeling quite anxious, and I decided to write a poem, and from then I’ve never looked back. I was sixteen years old at the time. I have grown so much as a poet since then. At first I just wrote stuff in my diary and never really read it or shared it with people. Then I started sharing with a few of my friends and my sister and they encouraged me to keep writing. That is when I started sharing my poetry on my social media pages and I got some positive comments that motivated me to keep writing. I also discovered amazing poets along the way, and their work inspires me; and here we are – 6 of my poems are part of this beautiful anthology and my first collection is coming out soon.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

Relatable. I want people to read my poetry and find themselves in the words I write. I want my readers to always remember that they are never alone in the things they feel, the thoughts that stay with them in the dark, the injustices they experience. But mostly, I want my poetry to be a beacon of light, to make sense, to heal.

Would you like to share anything about yourself to help your readers connect with you?

I am just a girl with big dreams, really big dreams. For a long time I didn’t think I had a voice or deserved an audience for my thoughts or the stuff I wrote. I was wrong, we all have voices and we all have platforms to be heard, find yours and scream.

Who is your favourite poet and why?

I have honestly stopped picking favourites because I am always discovering new poets and always think they’re the best I’ve ever read or heard. How do I even pick between art? I do think Kuda Rice is worth mentioning though, I’ve slept to his poetry most nights, it’s uplifting. I absolutely love Ocean Vuong as well, his work speaks to my soul.

What are your future writing aspirations?

Publish as many books as I can. There are many stories in my head and many voices in my head fighting for release. I want to go into the movie business, script writing and directing and producing films to be specific.

What is your biggest dream?

Where do I start – I’ve so many dreams and they’re all equally big. My biggest dream is to be able to make an impact on how children’s rights are protected and fulfilled. Also, to have so much money that I can travel and read and write books from all over the world and make my siblings’ lives as comfortable as possible.

Mercy…
What inspires you to write poetry?

It is usually life itself, as it unfolds; whether in the personal space, within my immediate surroundings or community, or as it plays itself out on a national and global scale. And sometimes the inspiration comes from the music I listen to, books that I read and those big and small moments in time that make up our lived experiences.

How does it make you feel to be part of a published anthology?

For me this particular publication is extra special. While my works have been accepted and published regionally and internationally, the local market has not been the easiest for me to penetrate, more so in poetry. So my inclusion in this publication, that identifies itself as a collection from Zimbabwean writers, sort of places me somewhere in Zimbabwean literary history in its making. And it is reassuring.

Do you face any challenges as a Zimbabwean woman poet?

I cannot think of any challenges that I face that are unique to me as a female Zimbabwean poet. The challenges I face would be the same challenges that my Zimbabwean male counterparts face in the same space. Challenges like lack of investment in poetry, the absence of opportunities that are conducive for the creation of an income generating and sustainable poetry industry.

Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started to where you are today.

My writing journey began with hip-hop. I started off writing rap verses because I loved the art form and it was an immediate form of emotional release. I only started writing poetry when I got to varsity (the University of Limpopo) and the closest thing to the hip hop community I had left back home in Bulawayo was a poetry society. I started off reciting my rap verses as poems but the exposure I got at the poetry society gave me the confidence I needed to actually start writing poems.

From spending so much time at the performing arts Centre, I developed an interest in writing plays which I never really finished. But in 2011, the Intwasa Festival made a call for entries for the then Yvonne Vera short story competition and I converted one of my incomplete plays to a short story and submitted it. When the story became one of the 14 shortlisted stories out of 104 entries, I started taking writing seriously. Since then, I’ve gone on to participate in writing residencies in South Africa and Uganda and I’ve also published a shorty story collection, “Bringing us Back” which won the 2022 National Arts Merit Award for 1st Creative Published work for books published in 2020 and 2021. My short stories and some poems have also been published nationally, regionally and internationally. Today I hold an MA in Creative Writing and I’m still writing.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

I want my work to have a significant impact on the causes that I am passionate about and advocate for, and it is that impact that I want my work to be remembered for. I also want it to be remembered as unwavering, honest and sincere.

Would you like to share anything about yourself to help your readers connect with you?

Yes definitely. Apart from writing as a natural response to either what life throws at you, pain, or the politics of my surroundings, for me writing is a form of advocacy. It’s my mouth piece in every genre I engage in. With that said, I don’t just write poetry and fiction. I also use hip hop as my mouthpiece under the stage name, Sista X, and my music is available on all streaming platforms.

Who is your favourite poet and why?

There are quite a number. But the one who immediately comes to mind is Tumi Molekane. Most would probably identify him as a rapper. I never liked poetry when we studied it at school. What we were exposed to did not speak to me and was just plain boring for me. It was through my engagement with hip-hop that I was introduced to spoken word as a performance art-form, presented and performed by people of colour who spoke a language I spoke and of realities I could identify with. And Tumi’s song ’76, was that one spoken word piece that got me loving poetry. It’s not just in the rhythm and how he brings words to life and paints pictures. It’s the journeys he takes you through just listening to his renditions. I also love Mbonisi Zikhali and Modise Sekgoethe. Again it’s in the journey, the foreplay with words. The magic and universes they create out of words in a gentle and emotive way.

What are your future writing aspirations?

To be able to make writing my main gig and regular 9 to 5 and be financially comfortable while at it, as opposed to what my writing reality currently is (something I squeeze in on weekends and after work when I’m already tired). Writing is what makes me happy and fulfils me. It however currently cannot pay my bills.

What is your biggest dream?

To be able to make an impact with my writing on a grassroots level and to establish a writing resort for writing residencies and retreats for underprivileged and marginalised writers.

Deborah…
What inspires you to write poetry?

I believe poetry is a vehicle for catharsis, revelation and the aesthetics of life. My inspiration has varied throughout different seasons of my life as poetry muses continuously change and so I tend to ride with the present wave of emotion I’ll be feeling and experiencing.

How does it make you feel to be part of a published anthology?

It’s an honor. I get to be part of something bigger than my own personal writings.

Do you face any challenges as a Zimbabwean woman poet?

As a self-published writer, I‘ve always managed to have control of how I write and who I allow into my world of writing. I believe that I have not explored poetry on a commercial level in Zimbabwe, therefore I can‘t say I‘ve faced any challenges as a female poet yet.

Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started to where you are today.

I have been writing from a young age as an escape from my childhood. In my teen years I wrote a lot of rap which developed my wordplay. However, social anxiety crippled me too much to ever evolve into Stage Performing, which then drew me to pursue a poetic approach. At 24 I released my first novel “Scented Coffins” as well as a poetry collection “I am Obliage”. TESSERAE is my first collaborative collection. Over the past 2 years I’ve been working on my new collection titled “Uhh, Coffee Time” which I’m excited to be publishing in the next few months.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

I want my work to be therapeutic for people from all walks of life. I hope it can bring joy, healing and knowledge to as many people as possible.

Who is your favourite poet and why?

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The subtlety with which Adichie depicts the human condition in her prose is shown by her abilty to portray the various points of view of her characters, many of whom are going through trauma and grief. Her works are centered around women – mostly black women, who are forcefully marginalized and dehumanized by society. She is a unique voice for women.

What are your future writing aspirations?

My future writing aspirations involve writing for film. The connection between being a writer and a dancer makes me want to turn my words into motion and I love the script to screen process.

What is your biggest dream?

To win an Oscar for best screenplay.

Wadzanai…
What inspires you to write poetry?

I write to deal with life, the joys and pains I see, the thoughts and feelings I have. Writing is my breath; I must write to live.

How does it make you feel to be part of a published anthology?

It feels great, I feel validated (I am good enough), it gives me courage to keep writing and hope that my poems and stories will go out there and be read.

Do you face any challenges as a Zimbabwean woman poet?

Yes. Platforms to express my art are few, moreso how to monetize it so that I can earn a living from it. Most of the art platforms offer exposure in return for the art, but an artist also needs to earn a living.

I believe music and perhaps television and film are the forms of art that are mostly pushed in Zimbabwe, which leaves poetry underappreciated.

Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started to where you are today.

I grew up reading lots of English and Shona books.

My parents and grandparents vividly narrated stories during my childhood which in my mind would come alive, creating the fertile grounds for my active imagination.

In primary school, I doodled as a way of telling my stories and I had many books of my scripted stories. I wrote a play for Prize Giving Day in Grade 5 which could unfortunately not be performed due to character complexities.

Age drew me towards poetry and short stories. I have submitted many to competitions and received equally as many rejections for those submissions (in fact I still receive them). I constantly ask myself “is my work good enough”? And yet, I will never question my love of writing, it keeps me going.

My poems have been published in print and electronic journals like The Sunday Mail – Zimbabwe (2014), Ntinga Literary Journal – South Africa (2014) Poetry Portion – South Africa (2018), Kalahari Review – Namibia (2021), and Through The Eyes of African Women – Nigeria (2019).

I placed second in April 2019’s spoken word contest hosted by the Harare International Festival of the Arts.

My short story, “The Ransom Wife” was amongst the 14 shortlisted stories for the Intwasa Short Story Competition.

In October 2019, I placed first in the poetry category of the International Labour Organisation’s Fast Forward Competition for the Arts. My poem, “A new day, new possibilities” was on exhibition at the National Art Gallery in Harare with over 300people having attended the inaugural exhibition. From 10 January 2020 onwards, the exhibition moved to Bulawayo.

In November 2019, my poem, “A letter to my son” was one of the few shortlisted poems by Akinna Mama wa Africa in Uganda for publishment in the Beijing Dispatch, a journal to commemorate the Beijing Platform for Action turning 25.

My poem, “One day we will all be no more” was longlisted by the Ibua Journal and my short story “How far we go”, came 7th in the short story competition.

In 2020, I collaborated with other Zimbabwean poets on a poem titled “Isu”. The collaboration was facilitated by The Incubator Zw.

In March 2021, I worked with the United Nations on their Spotlight Campaign against Gender Based Violence. My poem titled, “No Way, No More”, was dramatized and broadcast on ZBC, different radio stations and social media platforms like Instagram.

In 2023, I have contributed to the Tesserae Anthology and my story “The beginning of the end” was shortlisted to be published by the Writers for Climate Justice.

I also contribute finance and economy related articles to the Zimbabwe Independent, a weekly newspaper.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

As an authentic representation of myself, where I come from and my people. An authentic representation of our pains, joys, struggles, history, hopes and aspirations.

Would you like to share anything about yourself to help your readers connect with you?

Writing is my breath; I must write to live – the more they read my work, the more they give me life!

Who is your favourite poet and why?

Maya Angelou – she wrote her truth
Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche – she is just brilliant
(I know the question says just one, but I could not pick one)

What are your future writing aspirations?

I am currently working on a poetry collection that I hope will be published.

I am also working on a children’s book which I hope will morph into a series of books. With this one, I hope to tell children the stories of our people.

I am also taking mbira lessons and I hope to fuse it with my writing one day.

What is your biggest dream?

I want to keep writing, be published, monetize my art and win awards for it, starting with NAMA (charity begins at home).

I went into the Mambo Press Bookshop in Gweru sometime ago and my heart just stopped. I saw various Shona literature titles that I grew up reading – Kurauone, Imwe chanzi ichabvepi, Tambaoga Mwanangu, Mabvumira eNhetembo etc etc. It is my dream to have a Shona Literature collection featuring one of each novel.

Lin…
What inspires you to write poetry?

LIFE inspires me! I have always loved the written word, and my paintings and canvas installations inspire my poetry…

How does it make you feel to be part of a published anthology?

I feel empowered, I feel like I am “Taking Flight, Re-Inventing myself…”

Do you face any challenges as a Zimbabwean woman poet?

Because my poems are inspired by my art subjects, the challenges I face are different from many other Zimbabwean women poets, in that I perhaps feel less pressure to ‘succeed’ as a woman poet, since poetry is one of multiple disciplines that I practise, whereas a poet who is solely writing poetry will feel a more looming pressure to ‘succeed’, to make a statement in their own right…

Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started to where you are today.

Biology and literature were passions for me during my school years. Plans to enter the world of science or literature were superseded only by the decision to pursue the lonely path of an artistic career!

After completing a Fine Art Diploma in printmaking, painting and sculpture, at Durban Art College in 1980, I worked as a textile designer, travelling extensively to Europe and the Far East for business and pleasure. In 1991, having explored Chinese brushstroke painting and Indonesian batik techniques, I became a full-time fine artist in Zimbabwe. In 2010, I completed a Creative Writing course mentored by J.M. Coetzee, University of Cape Town. Myth, culture and storytelling has always had great power for me, especially so in Zimbabwe, where we have a rich history of the spoken word, ‘ngano’… and this informs my own writing and my painting.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

With joy, with a sense of ‘looking afresh’ at the human and animal condition, the travails and triumphs of life, in a world where increasingly we need to re-invent, to re-connect, to our roots, culture, nature and biodiversity in every sense.

Would you like to share anything about yourself to help your readers connect with you?

Third generation, born in Zimbabwe and expressing my hopes, fears and love for this country with my paintbrush and my pen, I respond to the world around me. I believe that the essence of a landscape, person or animal can only truly be captured by direct observation. That direct and enquiring gaze can then grow into meaningful abstraction, whether as painting, prose or poetry.
Whether painting ocean or African sky, dancers or rhinos, skulls or African wild dogs, I strive for elusive abstract emotion, a heartfelt ‘impression’ of my subject. I dream poetry into my painted landscapes, skyscapes, mindscapes as I make my marks.

I feel an intimate connection with the natural world, with diverse ecosystems. From field and life observations, I write and create drawings and works on canvas. Much of my painting inspires my poetry, and vice versa!

Who is your favourite poet and why?

Historically:
I have so many favourite poets, but one of my favourites would be an unconventional one, Eleanor Farjeon, (1881-1965), who penned “Morning has Broken” which, although it became a popular hymm that we all know and love, is simply a thanksgiving poem at heart. ‘A Dragonfly’ is another example of her deceptively simple but vital, earth-celebrating poetry….

A Dragonfly, by Eleanor Farjeon

When the heat of the summer
Made drowsy the land,
A dragon-fly came
And sat on my hand,
With its blue jointed body,
And wings like spun glass,
It lit on my fingers
As though they were grass.

Contemporary:
I choose three African poets, simply because each in their own accessible, powerful way have opened my eyes and my ears wider to the wonderful world and the emotions around me… (and note, the fact that they happen to be all women is actually not the reason I choose them!)
Batsirai Esther Chigama, for her pure, honest penmanship (For Women trying to Breathe…)
Hope Masike, for her quirky and fearless approach to life, music and poetry (Die with Me)
Samantha Rumbidzai Vazhure, for her evocative descriptive words, always (Starfish Blossoms)

What are your future writing aspirations?

I feel that I am at a turning point. Previously, when I had completed particular paintings, my collection of poetry arose from those paintings, but recently I have started writing the poetry before the painting takes life, such as my new poem and artwork titled “Mutsvairo”. An interesting turnaround, a kind of liberation, to be continued…!!

What is your biggest dream?

To continue painting and writing into a ripe old age, and to be able to have more and more freedom to “say what I want to say” with my poetry and my painting, as I grow older…!

Ruvimbo…
What inspires you to write poetry?

Life events are a great inspiration to me. As a public administrator, I work with people of diverse characters and sentiments, people of different educational backgrounds and leadership positions. This allows me to see life, behaviours and decisions from different angles. It tickles a lot of ideas in me and stirs me to write all the time.

How does it make you feel to be part of a published anthology?

It is very fulfilling to share pages with other writers. It makes me feel like I belong to a family that connects with me, a family of writers.

Do you face any challenges as a Zimbabwean woman poet?

The first people I have connected with in this industry are male writers and it has really been hard creating relationships with women writers. I wouldn’t guess the cause, but you’d think it would be easier to partake in a journey with your own gender, as you naturally understand each other and connect. I wish women in this industry to support each other more and cheer each other on as one.

Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started to where you are today.

I grew up a loner and all I did was write things down, those that made me happy, nervous or sad. Paper was the friend I told what I was to tell any human. So I had numerous works, and as I grew, my eyes opened wider, giving me more to deliberate and write on. After college I took writing more seriously and the Covid-19 lockdown connected me with many writers, and the more I interacted with them, the more I grew as a writer. Since then, it has been a real learning journey, thanks to the support and mentorship I have been getting from other established writers. I started featuring in local newspapers and had my first collection of poems published in 2022. It has been a challenging experience, but I realise I am growing with each publication, and I hope to work and connect more as I grow on this journey.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

I do not want my work to be only a work of fiction, but truth blended in art. I want to unapologetically unravel unsaid truths as I strive to rewrite narratives.

Would you like to share anything about yourself to help your readers connect with you?

I have seen a woman suffer and I have a lot I wish she could have said to give herself joy and peace. Therefore, in me rises a rage for issues of women I wish the world could listen to, so we are a safer place for this gender.

Who is your favourite poet and why?

The late South African poet, Don Mattera remains my favourite. In his works, he picked regular social ills that we often overlook and would speak them to power through poetry. I also love the works of Memory Chirere, Samantha Vazhure and Tanaka Chidora. Their command of language, so unquestionable in speaking truths, is a real inspiration.

What are your future writing aspirations?

As a writer I do not want to write for the people in my circles only, so it’s a dream come true to write and connect with different lives and diverse communities. I want my work to be far-reaching and life changing.

What is your biggest dream?

I have always thought of it this way, “How beautiful would it be if this world’s stories were told from a woman’s voice as the mother of creation?” I desire so much to see a woman’s voice matter, steering debate and decisions.

Thandokuhle…
What inspires you to write poetry?

I have come to realise poetry is woven into everything in our day to day lives. As a result, my inspiration can come from mundane ordinary things and also really deep and meaningful experiences. It can range from conversations, routines, patterns, experiencing human beings, experiencing life and the different emotions and things like the weather, nature, food etc.

How does it make you feel to be part of a published anthology?

I must say it feels really amazing to be a part of a body of work that is bigger than myself. I value collaboration, particularly with other women like me, finding little pockets and spaces to fully express themselves and speak their mind.

Do you face any challenges as a Zimbabwean woman poet?

I have not experienced anything in particular in terms of inequality in treatment at a professional level. I however, have been vulnerable and subject to terrible things such as manipulation, exploitation and there have been instances where I did not feel safe and was definitely being preyed on. I was lucky to have escaped certain situations, otherwise I would have been a victim of sexual abuse. I think the industry as a whole is unfortunately unsafe for a lot of us women, especially when you are either young or starting out, or both.

Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started to where you are today.

It started around primary school. I was very shy growing up, but I somehow really needed validation and always sought out ways of getting it. I realised writing was one of the very few ways I could get that. I would share my short story writings with everyone I could at that point and would eagerly wait to see and hear their reactions.

Fast forward to 15 in high school around form 2. I experienced Sithandazile Dube for the very first time, an amazing poet, and ironic because she was my Accounts teacher as well. It was a Wednesday afternoon during an assembly, she performed an amazing poem. There was just a lot of things about the experience that made me want to be so much like her. It felt like she was there for me specifically, like I had found what I have been looking for. I ran to her after the assembly and luckily, she was looking for students to mentor. That’s where all the magic began. She ushered me through writing and performing, and I have not looked back ever since.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

As a translation of what life is, was or will always be. Struggles and many other life experiences are not unique. That we are more alike than we think.

Would you like to share anything about yourself to help your readers connect with you?

I’m an average girl sharing her average interpretation of really ordinary things in a way I hope is thought provoking and somewhat intriguing.

Who is your favourite poet and why?

I absolutely love Sipholazi Jonas and Koleka Phuthuma, I think they have done things with poetry that a lot of us don’t imagine is possible. They have taken the art to places we didn’t think could accommodate and receive poetry like that.

What are your future writing aspirations?

I would like to finish all 3 books I started and could never get the courage to revisit. I hope to continuously build up courage to not only believe myself enough but to just share my best and worst stories unfiltered.

What is your biggest dream?

To get to a place where I don’t have to do other things in life, to enable me to just write or perform poetry; like getting another job or studying for something else to guarantee security or stable income.

Gertrude…
What inspires you to write poetry?

The urge to unleash that which I could not proclaim publicly but through poem writing that includes:

Sharing the experiences I have encountered and those I continue to experience as I walk through my life journey.

Sharing some heart-wrenching narratives from different people I have interacted with.

The desire to bring awareness to those going through complex challenges that they are not alone.

Maybe someone will look back and say “Gertrude’s poem resonates with what I went through and has empowered me to be a better person and mostly the power to be me and take control of myself.”

How does it make you feel to be part of a published anthology?

I feel excited and happy to be honoured, acknowledged, appreciated, and motivated to write more. I had a dream, but having my work published in my first entry is beyond one’s wildest dreams.

Do you face any challenges as a Zimbabwean woman poet?

None at the moment, as I am relatively new in the creative industry.

Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started.

My introduction to poetry started in 1978 whilst doing my “O” levels. The poems I appreciated were in my deep rich vernacular, Shona language, by poets who could vividly describe events so that I could visualise what was happening.

My first poem was translated from Shona to English and was featured in the school magazine. I had written several poems but would not submit them and translate them because I felt my work was not good enough and I was afraid I would be judged negatively. So, for years, I bottled up the idea but deep down in my heart, it kept clawing for action.

The COVID-19 shutdown presented itself as a new normal that was abnormal in tapping into what I had put aside – poem writing. This period brought challenges that were never experienced. A lot of people lost their lives, their loved ones and many lost their jobs unexpectedly. This motivated me to write the poem entitled “Joblessness”. In addition to this, it gave me time to reflect on different personal relationships that I have had in my life and pen the poems – “Absent In Your Presence” and “Lost Love”.

For me, COVID-19 came as a catalyst that invoked the hidden, unfully tapped passion in me. Poetry writing brought sanity to an environment that was filled with sadness and misery.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

My wish is that my work would be remembered as an opportunity for everyone to pursue their dream or passion at any stage of their lives. Doing it does not necessarily mean one is doing it for the other person BUT for themselves. However, in the same breath, I hope someone will learn something that would have a positive effect on their lives.

Would you like to share anything about yourself to help your readers connect with you?

I was born 63 years ago in the rural areas of Nyanga. I started my Substandard A, which is equivalent to today’s grade one, in 1967. At that time, our schools did not have desks and chairs and the teacher was the only one with the textbooks. The blackboard where he /she had to write our work for the day was very small and writing books were issued after having practiced letter and figure writing on the sand. Consequently, we had to sit on the floor and had to write whilst kneeling.

Working on subjects such as Maths or English in our books, required us to quickly grasp concepts and memorise what was written in the sand because the work had to be rubbed off after each activity in preparation for the next subject or topic.

Reading was an entirely difficult pursuit for us as young students to do. The Look and Say method was implemented; prompting us to memorise words and whole sentences. This is so different from the Phonics that are being applied now, which makes reading easier as it involves letter sounding.

After graduating at Mutare Teachers College, I trained as an elementary/primary school teacher and taught for 23 years. During that period, I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Education through distance learning. Nineteen years later, I acquired a degree in Master of Science in Development Studies. In the period between these two achievements, I earned a certificate in System Counselling and I am a Co-Founder and Registered Counsellor of Jekeso/Enlightenment Counselling Services.

Who is your favourite poet and why?

My favourite poet is the late Arron Hodza, whose poems depicted life in the rural areas where I lived. The presentation of his work was profound and touching and exposed the experiences people endured but never openly talked about it. It brought attention to some hidden secrets.

What are your future writing aspirations?

My future aspirations are to learn more about poetry and write more poems. The aim is to tap from those who have been in the industry longer and learn more.

What is your biggest dream?

To be a participant in empowering women to become more aware of the power they have within themselves to live the lives they dream of through being humble and respectful but putting the message of their expectations across.

In addition, I hope to use my counselling skills in providing therapy to women in a non-judgmental and un-intimidating manner in the poems I write.

C.M. Elliott was born in the UK, educated in Australia and has worked in the safari industry in Zimbabwe for many years. She took up writing in 2010. Sibanda and the Night Adder is her fourth novel. Also by C.M. Elliott:

Sibanda and the Rainbird
Sibanda and the Black Sparrow Hawk
Sibanda and the Death’s Head Moth

Pauline…
What inspires you to write poetry?

I write poetry to knit together broad situations around me and funnel them for mental digestion and analysis, provoking myself and readers to think about those issues. Poetry is like headlines to a story. You have to dress the poem in your mind with the clothes of your choosing to have the full story.

How does it make you feel to be part of a published anthology?

I am humbled and truly honoured to be part of this anthology. I am looking forward to reading and feasting on the contributions from the other poets.

Do you face any challenges as a Zimbabwean woman poet?

Not overtly. Being in a patriarchal society, I feel there is a systemic view that does not take women seriously especially in areas that man have had dominance previously. That, however, has not dampened my passion.

Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started to where you are today.

At school I really enjoyed writing compositions and my high school English teacher was a big encourager. I was a storyteller before I became a writer. As development practitioner and one whose work was published much later in life, I love telling stories that teach and influence… for the good of those around me and communities at large.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

That I laid it bare and talked about raw truthful issues that we avoid discussing, yet society (the vulnerable and disadvantaged) is reeling and begging for answers. I wish to instigate discussion that will inform and change narratives and perspectives.

Would you like to share anything about yourself to help your readers connect with you?

I am pro-family especially from the role women play in the household. I’m against the misuse and abuse they face despite their universal role of being initial custodians of future generations.

Who is your favourite poet and why?

Freedom Nyamubaya is in a class of her own in terms of background. Her poetry was ahead of her time as she spoke on behalf of many who shared similar experiences with her. Her sarcasm and satire does not camouflage her noble values and goals as she telescopes into the future of the country she so loved.

What are your future writing aspirations?

I would like to continue writing in Shona. I am persuaded that we have to do more for our local languages and give them the importance and prominence that the mother tongue deserves. Nothing can beat “Amaiwee zvangu!”

What is your biggest dream?

Being a Shona writer, it would be sweet dreams for me to walk into any nursery school and not hear a single word of English. Not hear any ‘Baa baa black sheep’ or ‘Jack and Jill’ but ‘kachembere kegudo ‘. Concerted focus on the local languages until year 3 of junior school and then thereafter introduce other languages. Kill the barrier and unhealthy association of intelligence with the ability to speak English.

Sue…
What inspires you to write poetry?

My writing has always been an expression of myself, the world around me and how I experience it. It’s the telling of these events that translates to poetry as I have found this to be the medium that I can express myself best in.

How does it make you feel to be part of a published anthology?

The experience of being part of Tesserae has been great for me. This is not the first anthology I have been a part of, but this stands out by far! Firstly because this is the first all-female publication I have been a part of, but also because of the level of professionalism I have experienced during this journey. From the editing process, keeping deadlines and also seeing me as an author. It has been an honour and I cannot wait to do this again!

Do you face any challenges as a Zimbabwean woman poet?

I think the biggest challenge is having a community of like-minded people that encourage you and keep you motivated. Another challenge would be the availability of genuine opportunities such as the ones provided by Carnelian Heart that promote and help poets grow.

Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started to where you are today.

I started writing poetry in high school without even understanding what it was I was doing. I later started a poetry blog, virtually worked together with other poets, featured in several anthologies and self-published a chapbook. I think it has been quite a ride and the journey has been a great experience for me.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

If one person can read my work and feel as though the words express things they feel but have no words for, I think I would have done a good job. My wish is for my work to be remembered as work that moved people, put them in touch with their feelings and made them better for it.

Would you like to share anything about yourself to help your readers connect with you?

I love books! If I had more hours in the day, I would probably use them to read!

Who is your favourite poet and why?

Siphokazi Jonas. Siphokazi has managed to make poetry enjoyable to anyone, collaborated with so many organisations and people through her poetry and made a career out of it. A place I would like to be one day.

What are your future writing aspirations?

I think getting more works out through anthologies, more books and collaborations with other artists.

What is your biggest dream?

My ultimate goal is to start an NPO that provides training for writers, hosts book festivals and encourages a reading culture for people of all ages. I feel like the culture of reading and writing is dying and I would love to revive it!

Carla-Ann…
What inspires you to write poetry?

Life in general, the little and the big things in life. The moments of personal victories and those of utter defeat.

I am grateful and humbled to be a part of this anthology especially because Samantha is one of the Zimbabwean female poets I admire.

Do you face any challenges as a Zimbabwean woman poet?

I do not know if it’s because I am a woman or because I am not a poet from Harare, but I find it difficult to get into spaces where I can be recognised. I published a book in 2023 and I struggled to get a newspaper to write an article or review the book. This to me has been the greatest challenge.

I started taking writing seriously in 2015 in Gweru. We used to have a meet up which we named POT (Poetry On Thursday), an initiative of ‘Word is bond’, but I have been writing for as long as I can remember. After POT I continued writing until I published my collection of poems titled, And To Patricia I Had To Man Up. This collection is a letter of sorts to my daughter, to one day help her understand certain struggles that I have met in being with her father leading up to our breakup and post that. The poems are arranged in a manner that I believe tells the story. I have been a part of various anthologies including, Loud Thoughts, The Zambian, The Rock Project, Tsongo Mukololo’s One Poem Project, just to name a few, and this year I published my first novel that I am also proud of.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

As having touched hearts and helped to peel the shells off some people’s hearts. Also as being a reflection of my thoughts and observations. As having been my voice.

I am a hopeless romantic who still believes in love that is selfless despite being born in this generation. I am passionate about everything I do.

Who is your favourite poet and why?

Christina Dominique, man, the way she delivers!! She is the poet that I feel the most connected to and whenever I hit a writer’s block, her performances rejuvenate me.

I want to write a novel based on a Zimbabwean folktale (I’ve actually started). I believe that our stories are not told enough, especially if I compare us to Hollywood where there are various versions of fairytales like The Little Mermaid. I am definitely going to publish more books.

For one of my books to be turned into a movie and win an Oscar. The goal is to win an Oscar Award.

Chioniso…
What inspires you to write poetry?

This is always such a difficult question to answer, for me it’s not always about inspiration. I think poetry is a vehicle I use to express myself, to give language to emotions I don’t fully understand. To capture moments in time, the geography of cities, the socio-economic status of humanity. My place in it all, as a Zimbabwean woman. Sometimes I write to be radical and other times I write to contemplate. My feelings about it are ever-evolving.

How does it make you feel to be part of a published anthology?

I love that I’m part of a collection of voices different to my own. Collaboration, when executed well broadens the scope of what I can do or what I think is possible as an individual.

Do you face any challenges as a Zimbabwean woman poet?

I think to a certain degree, there are privileges I’ve been afforded as a writer by virtue of doing many things at a time. So, I’d say that poetry alone would not sustain my artistic endeavours because it’s not something that pays immensely as yet. I’ve learnt to diversify my craft to include other forms of creativity and writing so that I always have a consistent mode of expression and the opportunity to grace different platforms. Whether it be playwriting, singing, filmmaking. Anything to keep me working.

Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started to where you are today.

I started writing In grade 2, these brief articles called News in which our teacher at the time instructed us to make a report about how our weekend went. I enjoyed writing these little reports so much that as I grew older, I was inclined to love subjects such as Creative Writing. I entered literary contests, submitting both poetry and short stories and eventually mustered the courage to start spoken word in High school at the age of seventeen. I attended Intwasa Poetry Slams in my early teens and then in 2022 I participated in Kenya Poetry Slam Africa in which I took first runner-up. It was such an exhilarating experience and I’ve spent my time between Nairobi and Bulawayo refining my craft.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

I want my work to feel like a personalized love letter to all my readers. Intimate and honest.

Would you like to share anything about yourself to help your readers connect with you?

I’m an introvert and I constantly live in the duality of expressing my art loudly while trying to protect the side of me that is very reserved and a bit shy at times.

Who is your favourite poet and why?

Maya Angelou, Still I Rise and Phenomenal Woman are poems I fiercely cling to.

What are your future writing aspirations?

I aspire to work extensively in the fields of television, film and music. I’m particularly interested in cinematography, screen writing and becoming a director.

What is your biggest dream?

To experience a full, peaceful and abundant life with all my loved ones.

Rose…
What inspires you to write poetry?

Life experiences in general. I am very observant and I feel things around me intensely. I express my feelings and opinions better in writing. Poetry is like a window to my soul and to the world, it allows me the freedom to explore, imagine and feel.

How does it make you feel to be part of a published anthology?

I am excited. I have always written for myself but it suddenly feels good to express myself for the world. It feels like a coming out of sorts.

Do you face any challenges as a Zimbabwean woman poet?

These are my first poems in the Zimbabwean poetry scape and I only wish that my being a woman will not be a hindrance to my poetry expression in the country.

Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started to where you are today.

I have always been a good writer and reader even. I was that kind of student who wrote compositions that my teachers would ask me to read out to the whole class because they were that good. So, I have written a lot from as far back as my primary school days. Only I am an introvert and have kept most of my writings to myself and shared some with close friends and colleagues with a few teasers on my social media statuses. Some of the poems in the collection are coming out of a mature and emotional phase in my personal life. I guess this marks a new and bolder phase in my writing and I hope to work on more publications.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

I want my work to resonate with many readers in their diverse experiences. I want my work to be remembered as speaking to real life situations and as a therapeutic outlet for people who need to feel and to heal.

Would you like to share anything about yourself to help your readers connect with you?

I am just a dreamer with a wild imagination and a stickler for creativity and self-expression. I love being a woman and I care for women and girls’ experiences. I love women’s stories and I dream of more spaces and places where women can tell their stories. I am a mother of boys!

Who is your favourite poet and why?

I do not have any favourite poet. As a student of literature, poetry wasn’t really my cup of tea, but I have read poems across the spectrum from the metaphysical poets to African poets – quite a wide range actually from Shakespeare, W. B Yeats, John Donne, Phyllis Wheatley to Senghor, Diop, Freedon Nyamubaya, Blessing Musariri, Batsirai Chigama, Memory Chirere, Tanaka Chidora, Samantha Vazhure and many others. What I can be sure about is that I just love poems that resonate with lived realities, with my personal experiences and my emotions.

What are your future writing aspirations?

I don’t want my writing to be limited to poetry, but time will tell. I am all for versatility so I look forward to experimenting with different forms.

What is your biggest dream?

My biggest dream is to tell women’s stories in various forms. To be part of the myriad of voices that speak to important matters affecting people across the world, especially from a human-woman’s perspective.

Josephine has written poetry and short stories appearing in various anthologies (Ghetto Diary, State of the Nation: Contemporary Zimbabwean Poetry) and projects. She is also a literary critic and has adjudicated numerous literary competitions including NAMA and Cover to Cover.

Zaza (poet, short story writer, dramatic arts practitioner) authored the short story, ‘Dance with yesterday’ and the play, The IVth Interrogation. Her poetry has been published on Pen International website, Badilisha Poetry Xchange, in Zimbabwean Newspapers and included in the Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights Anthology, All Protocols Observed and Cyphers Poetry Anthology Volume 87. She has written for Index on Censorship Magazine, Povo Magazine, MUD Journal and other publications. Zaza is an award-winning theatre director and producer, directing several productions including The Incident by Joakim Daun which won the 2018 NAMA Award for outstanding theatre production, and How are you really? by Chiedza Rwodzi, which won a NAMA award for outstanding theatrical production and Zaza a NAMA award for outstanding director for 2022.

Zaza is the Associate Artistic Director for Almasi Collaborative Arts, and the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Centre of International Theatre Institute. Recently, Zaza took part in the International Writing Program Fall Residency 2022 at the University of Iowa.

Afric spent her formative years in Ireland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Educated at Rhodes University and UCT, she has lived for periods in Paris, London and Spain. Her début, The lucky star of hidden things was published by Salmon Poetry (2012). The recipient of a Hennessy Award, she was named one of Ireland’s ‘Rising Poets’ in a special edition of Poetry Ireland Review. Afric’s second collection, Ghost of the Fisher Cat (2016), was nominated for the Piggott, Poetry Now and Forward Prizes. Both collections were translated into Italian, published by Casa L’Arcolaio and showcased at the Italian Literature Institute in Dublin. A chapbook, Invisible Insane (SurVision) appeared in 2019 and Hung Laundry and Certain Bodies is forthcoming in 2023. In 2021 Broken Sleep Books published Tied to the Wind, a hybrid childhood memoir, for which she received an Arts Council of Ireland Literature Bursary. Afric lives in West Cork.

Ashleigh (who writes under the pseudonym Leigh_Tigrexx) is a poet and psychology student. She started writing as a hobby at a very young age but quickly realised her passion for poetry specifically and focused on it. Her journey led her down a self-publishing path on Wattpad with her first three anthologies: Whiffs Of Nostalgia, Claws & Cacti and MAGENTA. Leigh is also the Founder and curator of a creative Trust called Bonzai Incorporeal which focuses on collaborative projects across diverse forms of creative expression including poetry, fashion and film. In light of her various creative passions, she has resorted to finding divergent methods of expressing her poetry, having ventured in spoken word and is currently working on visual and auditory variations to express her work.

Cristol is a poet based in Harare, Zimbabwe. Born in Mutare and raised in Harare, she has felt inspired and challenged by the two cities’ energy. Cristol`s love for poetry began in High School after taking on rap that eventually morphed into poetry, both page poetry and spoken word poetry. Cristol draws inspiration from raw emotions of her personal experiences and social issues. Cristol explores identity, gender, culture, human connection amongst others. She regularly performs at open mic and also curates events for other artists to have a platform to showcase their talents. She has performed locally at HIFA, Shoko festival, amongst others, and international performances with Paza Sauti`s Poems of the start of the world and The accelerator for Gbv prevention. Cristol’s dream is to one day see her words in print, inspiring readers with her unique perspective and love for language.

Born in Mutare, Zimbabwe, Ethel trained as a high school teacher and holds a BA in Media Studies. She was selected to participate in the British Council Crossing Borders Writers Project in 2004. Kabwato has been featured in important anthologies that have shaped literary spaces in Africa and the world, such as New Daughters of Africa (Margaret Busby, Myriad Press), Sunflowers in Your Eyes (Menna Elfyn, Cinnamon Press), Poetry International Website (Rotterdam, Netherlands), Writing Free (Irene Staunton, Weaver Press), and Ghetto Diary (Zimbabwe Publishing House), an anthology that was selected as a set book for advanced-level literature students in Zimbabwe. Her poetry is included in Between Two Rocks, (Ben Gaydos, Flint University) in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Cultural Centre in Detroit (ZCCD). She has read her work at several institutions including Highway Africa Media Conference, Rhodes University and the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. She has also been a guest of Cinema without Borders at the Movies That Matter (Human Rights) Film Festival in Amsterdam. She has participated in a reading and discussion of her work at the Hay Festival in Wales, UK and at Litfest in Harare. Kabwato is passionate about working with children and youths from disadvantaged communities and works with Slum Cinema, a voluntary initiative to empower youths through multi-media work.  

Fikile is a student doing her studies in Biochemistry and Biotechnology. Poetry is one of her passions. She has recently started working on spoken word poetry and has also had some of her pieces published. In late 2022, her poem “A piece of peace, please?” was published in the GCED Poetry 4 Peace anthology. This stands as her second published work, her first being a short story that was included in the Lockdown Blues and Blisses short story collection which was published in 2021. Fikile desires to speak through her literary work, especially on issues concerning mental and emotional health, to raise awareness of these areas.

Fungai is a world traveller, essayist, poet and thinker. She is a co-author of Sunflowers In Your Eyes: Four Zimbabwean Poets and her non-fiction writing has appeared in the Guardian, Africa Is A Country and Guernica, among other platforms. Fungai is also a digital and social media creator, having founded Her Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe’s first women’s web-based platform – in 2012. She currently explores African digital cosmopolitanism, an original conceptualisation of hers in which she situates African digitality as global. She runs a podcast which further explores social and cultural aspects of technology. Fungai enjoys experiencing wonderment in the everyday and writes, creates and posits from this standpoint
 

Kimberley is passionate about poetry as a way of expressing emotions from various experiences, especially issues to do with grief, love, and heartbreak. She has been writing for a year now and looks forward to establishing herself as an HIV and women’s rights activist in the near future. She is part of an online community called allpoetry.com, where she posts some of her poems and tries to perfect her craft through interacting with other poets. Aside from writing, her hobbies include reading self-development books and watching true crime documentaries.

Lucille Sambo is a Zimbabwean born scribe and member of the literati, currently dwelling in and braving the sands of the Kgalagadi in Botswana. Her work has been published in several magazines, including Brittle Paper, Lolwe and Pepper Coast Lit. When she is not pioneering the Afro-punk sci-fi genre, she prefers to immerse herself in the world of Noir Films, Anime, or spend her time in the embrace of the sun.

Marian was born in Harare and completed her school education there. She lived and worked in various countries in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East before moving to her present home in southeast England. Passionate about both the arts and the sciences, she holds Master’s degrees in Applied Mathematics and Creative Writing, and often interweaves mathematical structures or imagery in her poetry. Her work has been widely published in online journals and print anthologies. She has written two poetry books, Fractal Poems and Triangles (both published by Penteract Press), and a collection of essays, From Fibs to Fractals: exploring mathematical forms in poetry (Beir Bua Press).

When not writing or reading poetry, Marian looks at the stars, puzzles over the laws of physics, listens to birdsong and crochets. She blogs at www.marianchristiepoetry.net and is on Twitter: @marian_v_o.

Nyasha Celeste Makombe (who also writes as Thee Poetic Raindrop) sails through the oceans of pen and paper in which she has achieved many successes. Her works have been featured in twenty-four anthologies to date, as well as numerous magazines and newspapers. Ask my father, Paidamoyo, Mudzimu ndiringe and Tiva ta wena are her upcoming novels to look out for, accompanied by a poetry book titled Poetic Raindrops. To her, poetry is more than putting words on paper – it’s about telling stories untold and giving a voice to the voiceless. It is within her soul; the everlasting fire burns.

Nyasha describes her motivation for writing as follows: “My dear grandma did not further her education; she couldn’t go to secondary school but she was educated enough to let children be children. She was willing to be called crazy for literally fighting off men. Growing up, I couldn’t see why my grandma liked fighting, especially fighting with men when you’re a lady! Now I understand she couldn’t petition against child marriages and abuse, but in her own way she made herself heard and stood her ground, and was nicknamed “the undertaker” for her fighting expertise. This is something we have failed to do for those few girls from our homesteads that we know, the stories we have heard, because we thought it’s too political, it will ruin relationships in our rural homes or maybe it’s because it hasn’t or it didn’t happen to us! For this reason, I became a philanthropist, the Founder of Falcon Love Trust. It’s not about being in a huge organization, it’s my voice being heard. On platforms where people actually care, on platforms where some people are in a capacity to act when my words evoke them to action. And to this journey, humanitarian work through poetry! To letting out thoughts and the truth that no one wants to talk about! Speech bravery! To grandma legacy! I haven’t done much but I was here! I lived! I loved! I did, I have done everything I wanted, and I’ll leave my mark, a mark of grandma legacy. To be a carer.

R.I.P. Grandma Connie, you would have liked this, like you always said ‘kura uite kasikana kakafunda, kakarhwe mabhuku, nekutaure chingezi, kachikwire ndenge!’ (‘grow into a learned girl child that consumed books, can speak English and fly in aeroplanes!’).”

Patie is a passionate social worker with a Bachelor of Social Work Honours Degree from the University of Zimbabwe. She is a feminist leader, creating safe spaces for women to engage in transformational conversations, and a feminist writer whose work has been published in Open Democracy, The Spill Mag and Essence Girls United. Her areas of expertise include women’s rights issues such as Gender Equality, Feminist Leadership, SRH, SGBV, FGM Menstrual Health, and Climate Change. She is a spoken word performer and multi award winning poet whose work has featured in Tsonga Mukololo Publications (One Project), Vasikana Project (Menstrual Health Poetry Competition) and YouthHubAfrica (Youth Voices on Ending FGM). She is a digital storyteller with a personal blog called Her Diary Conversations. She is also a member of Women’s Coalition Zimbabwe and Amnesty International Zimbabwe (AIZ). Patie is a 2023 AIZ #YouthPowerAction fellow.

Rutendo Chichaya is a writer, poet and blogger from Harare, Zimbabwe. Her short story ‘Visiting Hour’ was a finalist for the Hamwe Short Story Contest in 2021 and ‘Herald of the New Times’ was shortlisted in the 2020 Intwasa Short Story Prize. Her work has been featured in the following publications: Intwasa Short Stories Volume One and The One Poem Anthology: Survivor’s Edition. Rutendo reviews books on her blog, Rehab and Relapse, which was shortlisted for an AfroBloggers Award in 2021. She is also the host of Ihwi, a podcast that focuses on storytelling. Rutendo is currently working on a collection of poems for publication.

Shumirai Nhanhanga was born in 1965 in Harare (Salisbury then). A teacher by profession, she is also a renowned poet who has managed to break the barrier between male and female Zimbabwean poets. She has written and published short stories and poems under Zimbabwe Women Writers (ZWW) collection of short stories and poetry anthologies, Light a Candle, Totanga Patsva and Traps. She wrote a poetry collection titled A Shower of Poetic Vistas which was nominated for the NAMA awards 2016. Shumirai also wrote a drama book titled Innocent Souls which was adapted from her short story and published by Progressive Publishers in 2021. Some of her poems have been featured in both print and electronic media.

She has performed at big gatherings such as National Day Commemorations, Zimbabwe International Book Fair and United Nations Programmes. Shumirai has a passion for children, religion and gender issues, and through her performances one is filled with passion and nostalgia.
She has sat on various Arts boards such as the Zimbabwe Women Writers, Zimbabwe Association of Theatre for Children and Young People, National Institute of Allied Arts, Zimbabwe Writers’ Association, to mention but a few. She has also participated in creating Audio Visual content through Scriptwriting, script editing and audio-visual lesson delivery. Shumirai has helped parents and learners appreciate poetry through her teaching performances.

Tsitsi’s most recent volume of poetry, Mother Tongues (2019) received the Cave Canem Northwestern University Press Prize. Her first collection, Beating the Graves (2017), and a chapbook, Carnaval (2014), were published by the African Poetry Book Fund. Jaji was born and raised in Zimbabwe, and moved to the U.S. to study piano and literature. Her poems often evoke music, the sacred, migrancy, and ecological crisis.

Jaji is the Mary S. Bevington Associate Professor of Modern Poetry in English and African & African American Studies at Duke University, and has been fortunate to have held fellowships at the Mellon New Directions, National Humanities Center, and Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies. She is the author of Africa in Stereo: Music, Modernism and Pan-African Solidarity, which received the African Literature Associations First Book award, and honourable mentions for the Kwabena Nketia Award (Society for Ethnomusicology) and Harry Levin Prize (American Comparative Literature Association).

Zenith was born and raised in Zimbabwe. She studied her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Arts at the University of Zimbabwe and got an Honours in French. She also holds a Master’s degree in Cultural Innovation from University of Transilvania, Brasov in Romania where she currently resides. She can speak Shona, English and Romanian. Zenith is also a professional signed model. Besides reading and writing, Zenith enjoys dancing, karaoke and hanging out with friends in the sun. Zenith can be reached at zenithbvukutwa@gmail.com.