AFRICAN
WOMAN WRITER….by Rhoda Zulu, Malawi
Anyone
who is able to write is said to be a writer. But then others claim to do more
writing than others such that they may be viewed as conscious writers. But to
what extent are active female writers visible? Do our readers easily access the
most of female writers’ products? Next, how would we compare visibility of
female writers versus male writers in Malawi and Africa as a whole?
These
are some questions worth brainstorming since writing is argued to be an aspect
of development. May be it is one reason why it is said that leaders are
supposed to be active readers; as quoted from FEMRITE Uganda Women Writers
slogan, Leaders are Readers. Indeed there
has been an outcry that Malawian female writers are less visible while male
domination continues to outshine in literary works. In fact several people have
called upon Malawian women to wake up from their slumber. Although one may
choose to argue for or against the dispute, the fact remains that if one blouse
through literary works then make a simple comparative analysis of who makes
news and who publishes most, then male dominance is evident. But then one
wonders why it is that while in Malawi female writers are viewed as not very
vibrant in their literary contribution, on the other hand within our continent,
Ugandan women ask where their male writers are. Actually the world is made of
numerous women stories that require creation of conducive environments for these
women to tell a fair tale.
It
is behind this predicament that the Rockefellers’ Foundation Centre of Frati at
Bellagio in Italy generously provided scholarships to 19 females from some
countries from Africa (including Rhoda Zulu from Malawi) to brainstorm the
future of African female writers initiatives from 10 to 14th November,
2014. Apart from Malawi other countries represented were South Africa, Ghana,
Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Kenya. These women who
braved the cold temperature of Bellagio (between 5 to 10 degrees Celsius) included
writers, publishers, editors and organizers of literary and creative
initiatives.
Participants to the African Women Writers’
Workshop at Ballagio,Italy (Rhoda Zulu fifth from left)
Rhoda Zulu at Bellagio Frati
Information
authored by Judith Rodin, titled Bellagio
Centre, Villa Serbelloni stated that the word Bellagio is from a Latin word bi-Lacus or two lakes. The
Rockefeller Bellagio Centre is along a Y shaped Lake Como. The centre is an
important historical site originally owned by Lady Ella, a princess who
entrusted John D Rockefeller to make renovations. When the princess observed
that John D Rockefeller had made wonderful renovations she felt this was a
symbol of great humanitarian and charitable activities so she transformed
ownership of Bellagio to Rockefeller. This marked the beginning of a centre that
is now connected with cross pollination of traditions of extensive inquiry, innovation
by hosting scientists, artists, theorists and practioners of various
disciplines. As such residents and conference participants envision some of the
next centuries’ most innovative ideas to fulfil Rockefeller foundation
philanthropic mission. This centre hosts people of different cultures,
geographic regions and disciplines that aim to spark solutions to major
contemporary problems across the globe.
Lake Como, its Y shape almost
surrounds Bellagio Centre
Major aims of this meeting were:
- To
explore ideas and strategies for new means of survival and sustainability
in an environment that might not necessarily be very favourable to women
writing and to the arts in general.
- To
explore the possibility of establishing a strategic network of African
Women Writers Initiatives that will work to advance women writing in
Africa.
- To
create a platform for new connections among
participating individuals and the organizations that were be represented.
Discussions
centered around the position of women writing in Africa through experience
sharing on successes and challenges as well as their aspirations. Among
constraints was lack of funds for publishing, inability to carry out female
writing promotions as well as lack of a coordinating body to boost women
literary activities for Africa. At national levels most representatives
expressed that development agenda does not have an art and culture
contribution.
The
outcome of the meeting was the birth of the African Women Writers’ Network
which will focus on facilitating, coordinating and lobbying towards increased
visibility and blossoming of female literary groupings through regional and
country structures specifically managed by female writers. The network will further
pull resources together and establish new connections from which female writers
across Africa would increase visibility of their literary works. Key thematic
areas for this network shall among others involve capacity building, provision of
residences, fundraising and sustainability, publishing, festivals and
experiential learning from models etc. Hence the network will promote and
develop female writers, strengthen female writers’ organizations, foster
innovation and support Africa Women writing through capacity building and
funding support to regional and country networks that will be members. FEMRITE Uganda was chosen to be the
secretariat because it is a model due to its success in accelerating female
literary works to a point where more female writing outwits male’s writing. The
task force is mandated to come up with Terms of Reference and strategic plan
for a visionary takeoff.
To
sum up, the birth of African Women Writers shall have one of its indicators as
that of an increased number of quality literary publications by African Women as well s increased
accessibility of African women writers’ works by their readers.
