New anthology highlights African feminism
Feminism has been topical for the last decade or so. It has gained a number of followers as well as retractors in its wake. The most outspoken African feminist is perhaps Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who revolutionised African feminism and made it more mainstream.
A recently released collection of short stories continues on the trend of feminism in the African context.
The book is titled ‘The African Feminist Anthology’ and features work from female writers from Zambia and Zimbabwe. The stories centre mainly on women and give them a chance to have their voices heard and their story told.
The book is part of a project launched by Sistah Sistah Foundation (SSF) (based in Zambia) that aims to use book sale proceeds to fund a skills training program for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
The idea for the book was conceived by the foundation’s founder Ann K Holland, an avid reader of African literature who aspired to create an African anthology that did not centre on the trauma and pain often associated with African stories.
The African Feminist Anthology: Women’s Tales” is a captivating collection of 12 diverse short stories penned by talented African authors. These tales traverse a spectrum of emotions, seamlessly weaving laughter with poignant romance, tears with narratives of healing, and moments of shock and fear. Each story within this anthology intricately captures the essence of African women, showcasing their resilience, complexity, and unwavering spirit. Beyond the literary treasure trove it offers, this anthology aims to make a tangible impact—the proceeds from its sales will support a skills training program for women who have survived Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). By indulging in these compelling narratives, readers not only delve into the vibrant tapestry of African women’s lives but also contribute to empowering and uplifting survivors of SGBV towards a brighter future.
A call for submission was made on SSF’s social media which saw over a hundred submissions being lodged. Eventually they narrowed down the stories to only twelves.
“Getting the book together was an involving yet rewarding experience”, said Hazel Malunga the program officer at SSF, “Although we mentioned in the initial call for submissions that we did not want any stories that surrounded distressing and violent themes, we still received a lot of such stories in the beginning. We had to put out follow up posts reiterating the fact.”
They hope that the profits from the book sale will be a sustainable model to fund their work in supporting women and girls who are victims of SGBV. The book was released recently and is available on Amazon (The African Feminist Anthology : Women’s Tales eBook : Foundation, Sistah, Climate, Feminist: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store)
Hazel Malunga is a Zambian Gender Equality research specialist who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies from the University of Zambia.
She is currently a Project Officer at Sistah Sistah Foundation. She is an intersectional feminist whose passions lie in sexual and gender based violence, girls’ and women’s education advocacy.
Her activism strongly focuses on ending sexual and gender based violence against girls and women and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Her areas of expertise are Program organization, Project implementation, Grant research and Project Management. [Source: LinkedIn]
