In Zimbabwe’s thriving literary scene, writers like Elizabeth Taderera are making important contributions to the country’s educational and cultural landscape in addition to releasing their works.

My Afrika Magazine‘s Lingiwe Gumbo (LG) had an exclusive chat with Elizabeth Taderera (LG) the highly accomplished author and poet who began her literary career in 2019, and Francis Kojo Antwi (FKA). Her work demonstrates the significant influence local literature can have on society, addressing important social concerns and promoting a reading culture.

LG: Please introduce your artistic journeys.

ET: Elizabeth Taderera is an award-winning author and poet whose literary journey began in 2019. Since then, she has published ten books, with Svikiro Island set to be her 11th and first international collaboration. Her novel Jabu was selected as a high school set book for literature in Zimbabwe. Through her initiative, Evantrey Ink, she mentors emerging young writers, championing stories that heal, empower, and transform.

Francis Kojo Antwi never liked talking, so writing became his voice when he got to the University. He wrote motivational messages and shared with close friends and family. Later, he wrote a motivational book titled “The Path Forward” which is yet to be released. His first published book is KWANSEMA, a novel meant to erase the false perceptions about persons living with albinism. 

LG: How did you meet and come up with the idea of a collaboration?

ET: We met on Facebook. Kojo sent a message congratulating me on my first award. We kept in touch, exchanging messages until one day Kojo suggested we do a collaboration. Initially we were supposed to be three working on the project. However, life happened and the project was on ice for a long time, until we decided to continue years later.

LG: Please explain the writing process.

ET: It was as if we were in sync even though we’re miles apart. We would love to say it was effortless but that would be a lie, we faced writer’s block and half the time it was stressful. Either of us would write a chapter, send it to the other who would have also finished a chapter, and we would compare if they were compatible on not.  Believe it or not it was seamless. We drew inspiration from each other and focused on the goal.

LG: As Zimbabwean and Ghanaian writers, has your artistic presence been felt in your local communities? Share your impact so far.

ET: I am slowly breaking ground in Zimbabwe, with having my previous book added into the school curriculum, and now helping to shape the students, I feel I am making quite the impact in Zimbabwe.

F.K.A: As mentioned earlier, KWANSEMA is about persons with albinism – a marginalised group in most parts of Africa. It’s refreshing to know that a lot of my readers have had a renewed mindset after reading. I’ve had the opportunity to meet Ghana’s President and a couple of high-profile people in the country to discuss the content of my book and how best they can support me to achieve the purpose of the book.

 LG: What narrative did you intend on portraying to the African writers community?

ET: That Africans are one people, it doesn’t matter which part of the continent you are from, we all have a story to tell and we can do it together.

LG: Do the characters in the story have similarities of your personalities in any way? Please explain

ET: We wouldn’t say the characters represent our personalities but they are born out of our experiences. They are the reflection of what we have heard and what we believe could be better in a human being.

LG: Your previous book Jabu, made it into the high school curriculum as a set book. Do you think Svikiro Island has a chance of being studied in education institutions? Explain

ET: I think it does have a chance, because we have reinvented African literature, we have brought two countries, two cultures into one book, if this is not part of a lesson of Ubuntu, I don’t know what is.

LG: What is the scariest scene in Svikiro Island, which either of you wrote? Please explain

F.K.A: The part where dogs pursue Mawuko. It looks like something that came out of one of my nightmares. I often integrate my dreams into my writing. 

ET: When Mayarutsa’s head was to be used as dinner.

LG: I remember one review of Svikiro Island which gave an idea of making it a Marvel movie. What are your views on this?

We love it, nothing would give us joy than to see our characters come to life. I think once we finish the Svikiro Island Series we will look into film deals, it would be a great new adventure for us to embark on