Welcome to this February edition, readers! I am thrilled to bring you an exclusive interview with the 2022 African Writers Award Winner (Poetry Genre), the multi-talented Temwani Mgunda. A creative writer, teacher, and journalist hailing from the beautiful country of Malawi, Mgunda’s work has captivated audiences worldwide and earned him recognition as one of Africa’s most promising voices in poetry. Join me as we delve into his inspirations, writing process, and the impact he hopes to make through his work. Don’t miss out on this chance to get to know this rising star! – PP Blessing
PPBlessing: Could you introduce yourself?
TM: I’m Temwani Mgunda, a Malawian creative writer, journalist and teacher of English and History
PPBlessing: Which of these did you study professionally? Journalism, English or History?
TM: Both. I first trained as a high school teacher of English and History. Later on, I studied Journalism.
PPBlessing: How has combining these fields with creative writing been?
TM: They blend very well. Actually, I have benefitted a lot from history in that a number of historical events have inspired some of my literary works. It is the same with journalism whereby some events I have covered have ended up in a poem or short story. As for English, I mostly write in that language plus I benefitted a lot from what I learnt in English Literature both as a student in high school and college as well as a teacher of the subject.
PPBlessing: Was your winning poem – the Slums of Mbayani – in last year’s African Writers Award also inspired by history?
TM: No, I would say by journalism in the sense that I have covered a lot about life in the slum townships.
PPBlessing: What else inspires your writing apart from your job and history?
TM: Personal experiences, reading the Bible and the Quran.
PPBlessing: Part of your tagline on Twitter reads ex-cop. Were you a cop at some point?
TM: Yes, though not a hardcore cop. It happened that I once taught at a Police Secondary School, the only high school in the country for wards of police officers. Now, it was noted that it wasn’t easy to promote a civilian in the police service because promotions there follow ranks. To solve the problem, the police service trained us in the basics of police life and job and gave us police ranks. But our core job remained that of teaching.
PPBlessing: Interesting. How was the experience?
TM: It was quite exciting to be called Superintendent Temwani Mgunda, plus we enjoyed all the privileges accorded to police officers like at the officers’ mess and the like. Once in a while, we wore the police uniform though it was not mandatory for us teachers. I authored a short story titled Detective Sergeant Kasongo which was based on my experience in the police service and it was published in Malawi News.
PPBlessing: Where can one get a copy?
TM: It was published at a time Malawi News was strictly published in print form around the year 2009 but I have the copy.
PPBlessing: Nice… Why did you leave the school?
TM: After I acquired a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, I went on to join the newsroom.
PPBlessing: Has it been a worthy move?
TM: In many ways, yes. It opened up a lot of opportunities for me.
PPBlessing: Do you write other genres or it’s strictly poetry?
TM: I’m more of a short story writer than a poet. Sometime back I attempted writing plays but I stopped.
PPBlessing: Why did you stop?
TM: Most of the local publishers are not into publishing plays.
PPBlessing: Does that mean all your stories and poems are already published?
TM: No, I have fresh ones which are yet to be published, especially short stories. I currently write ‘long’ short stories which if they are to be published then it should be in anthologies or online publications because the print newspapers in my country do not allocate enough space for stories of that length.
PPBlessing: Okay… Are any publishing plans on the ground?
TM: Yes, I am compiling a short story collection likely to be published this year.
PPBlessing: Self-published or through a publishing house?
TM: Through a publishing house. The collection will include my short story which was shortlisted for the 2018 African Writers Awards.
PPBlessing: When should we expect it?
TM: By mid this year it should be ready. I started working on it last year.
PPBlessing: Godspeed. We look forward to that time. Will there be a book launch?
TM: Funds permitting, I will hold one. But most of us rely on the media guys to publicise our works.
PPBlessing: How come you don’t have a personal blog or website seeing that most creative writers have one?
TM: I think I am not much into these things but it’s time I embraced such platforms.
PPBlessing: Has winning the African Writers Award influenced your writing in any way?
TM: Of course, I am now encouraged to do more on the international stage. The President of the Malawi Writers Union recommended me to the organisers of a continental writing competition to be one of the judges and I think it is because of my winning the award.
PPBlessing: That’s awesome. Have you won other awards aside the African Writers Award?
TM: Not winning but I was once a second runner up in the First Merchant Bank/Malawi Writers Union Short Story Writing Competition in 2005.
PPBlessing: What has been your major drive as a creative writer?
TM: The ambition to be recognized locally and internationally plus the passion to, in a small way, educate society through my works.
PPBlessing: Have you achieved some part of these?
TM: Yes, locally. At least I am among some of the recognised contemporary writers in Malawi and some of my poems and short stories are currently taught in high school as part of the Literature syllabus
PPBlessing: Wow! Such amazing outcomes. How long have you been writing?
TM: For close to 15 years now, I think.
PPBlessing: What made you start writing?
TM: My father was a primary school teacher and he used to buy magazines for our home and we started reading and admiring the poems and short stories that were published in the magazines. We also had a rich bookshelf in the home. When I went to secondary school, we had very helpful teachers of English who encouraged those of us who had the passion to write. I attempted writing poems for the library and dining notice boards; they were liked by teachers and my fellow students. That’s how it all started.
PPBlessing: Are you married, dating or single?
TM: I’m married to Umma and we have a daughter Anastazia
PPBlessing: Which are your top 3 favourite books?
TM: Petals of Blood by Ngugi wa Thiongo
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hussein
Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
PPBlessing: What would you tell a young writer trying to find his niche in writing?
TM: To prioritize reading as widely as possible
PPBlessing: In your years of writing, what have you found most helpful when writing?
TM: Mostly having my colleagues critique my works before they are sent to publishers.
…And with that, we conclude this month’s enlightening conversation. We can’t wait to introduce you to another incredible African writer next month, stay tuned!
Read – Testimony Odey – 2022 African Teen Writers Awards Winner (Story Category)
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