In this edition, Lise interviews Patrick Nzabonimpa (Tom), a Rwandan writer, poet, and journalist. Patrick, the Country Coordinator of WSA-Rwanda since 2020, shares his journey from high school essays to a forthcoming short story collection, A Thread of Silent Echoes (2026). He reflects on the importance of staying true to African identity in literature and highlights the role of WSA-R in promoting creativity and collaboration among writers in Rwanda.
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Lise: Hello, Patrick, it’s an honour to have you today. May our audience know more about who we have today?
Patrick: Patrick Nzabonimpa (Tom) is a Rwandan writer, poet, journalist and communications enthusiast. He is also the Country Coordinator of WSA-R since 2020 where he oversees the community’s initiatives and facilitates some creative writing courses. His favourite genre is short story and his debut collection “A Thread of Silent Echoes” is forthcoming in 2026 from Vine Leaves Press (Greece, UK). Apart from his professional endeavours, Patrick is also a tea lover, a spoken word performer.
Lise: Kindly take me through your writing journey. When did you fall in love with writing and how is it so far?
Patrick: That’s a big one. My journey is long but let me try to be brief. As far as I can remember, I started writing when I was still in high school, mainly senior two, writing essays and compositions that fellow students came to love. In 2018, that’s when I started writing things not related to academia, starting with poems. I was inspired by a friend Ange Theonestine Tuyishime (Marayika) who used to post some poems on her WhatsApp status. I tried to write one imitating her style and later on, I started reading poetry books and listening to poets on YouTube. Eventually, I started writing my own poems inspired by my lifestyle and what I observe around me. In 2019, I broadened my skillset and started writing prose. I wrote a CNF about my family which was submitted to Pen Pen African Writers Residency in 2019 and got selected to attend it in early 2020. When I returned to Rwanda, I started writing short stories as I had grown to love prose and fiction as well and in April 2024, I started WSA-R to share what I’ve learned with fellow Rwandan writers. The community helped me to write more and more. In 2021, I joined The New Times and started writing news and features as a journalist. Now, I am also into copywriting, editing and content writing. So, it has been a challenging but rewarding journey — from just having a passion for writing to establishing a community with other writers and making a living out of my writing skills. The journey continues.
Lise: A. In three words, how would you describe WSA?
Patrick: Inclusive, Artistic, Supportive.
Lise: B. Explain in details
Patrick: WSA first of all is a community which welcomes all writers from all walks of life, whatever genre you write and wherever you are based. That aspect of inclusivity is commendable. Then, there is art in this community, mainly creative writing. We don’t just focus on writing but writing creative works that are also original. In addition to that, there are poets who are artistic as well as other artists who do really great things. So, I would say, it’s a community of not just writers, but artistic writers. And lastly, the support in this community is huge. This is a community that allows you to grow for free, of course if you commit to learning, networking and collaborating. You get to connect with amazing like-minded people who can take you places or become a stepping stone towards your dreams.
Lise: According to you, is there anything wrong with the way Africans express themselves in literary world?
Patrick: I believe that African writers need to stay true to their identity in their literature and not be influenced by western literature. Although we adopted their language, but we can still express our beliefs, traditions, cultures and other elements of identity in it. Where necessary and fit, we should write in our mother tongue as well as vernacular more. This means that if I read a work of an African writer, it should reflect the true life of Africans or a particular population in Africa and avoid stereotypes. Africa is developing and we also have technology, so our stories shouldn’t be about bad stuff happening but also the unique good stuff we have.
Lise: Would you say that a writer’s craft gets better as he grows? Why?
Patrick: From a personal experience, I agree. My craft has grown over the years. For instance, there is a big difference between the way I expressed myself through writing in 2018 and today. I’ve accumulated new skills, new experiences as well as wisdom to cater to even an older or wittier audience. But again, a writer shall keep reading more and different materials and immerse in different experiences to be able to grow their craft. Never stop reading and writing as well.
Lise: Who are your top 3 favourite authors of all time?
Patrick: My favourite authors include Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Stephen King and Michael A. Singer
Lise: You are WSA Rwanda’s country coordinator and Rwanda will be hosting AWC this year. What would you like to tell us about it (WSA Rwanda) and its contribution to the growth of Rwandan literature?
Patrick: Good question. Yes, WSA-R is hosting African Writers Conference 2024 from October 22 to 27 in Kigali. We are so excited for this opportunity to connect writers, artists and literary enthusiasts from across Africa to share ideas and discuss the ways to advance African literature, mainly focusing on children’s literature. We look forward to having engaging and insightful conversations as well as having fun with fellows across Rwanda and other African countries in attendance. So, nobody has to miss.
This conference seeks to significantly contribute to Rwandan literature as it will connect local writers which rarely happens here. Through book exhibition, creative writing workshops, panel discussions, we hope to see new ideas and connections emerging leading to more collaboration. Also, this will put WSA-R and WSA in general on spotlight which can lead to future partnerships and opportunities.
Lise: Tom, what do you do in your free time? I mean, your hobbies.
Patrick: In my free time, I either read something, watch comedy or go out with a close friend or visit them. Sometimes, I also use the time to look for new opportunities in my field and share it with others where necessary. My hobbies include hiking or walking, travelling far from the city and mindfulness meditation.
Lise: Is there anything else you would like to share with our audience?
Patrick: I want to encourage you to build your dreams and where possible, focus on that. You can still help build someone else’s but yours should remain a priority. And if you can’t manage now, you should aim to get there. Don’t let your dream just die like that. It’s not really fair. Make a plan and start writing that book, ask for help and keep reminding yourself that you should achieve it. I would also love to take this opportunity to invite you to join us for AWC 2024. You can attend in-person or virtually. See you.
Lise: Thank you so much for your time, Tom.
Patrick: Thank you too.
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