Two Malawian female writers Asante Mtenje and Ekari Mbvundula have set the tone for 2025 with new releases of their literary works, a debut poetry book and fiction book respectively.
Mtenje, an associate professor in the Department of Literary Studies at the University of Malawi, debuted her poetry collection titled Forms of Slaughter and Other Poems while the Zimbabwe-based Mbvundula published her science fiction novel Green Shadows: Vinjeru’s Awakening.
In an interview, Mtenje said she decided to publish her collection of poems after being encouraged.
“I felt like I was being a hypocrite for encouraging my students to publish their work when I was not doing the same. So, I decided to walk the talk,” she said.
Mtenje also highlighted the importance of women representation in the literary space. She hoped that her work will encourage other women writers to do the same.
“Oftentimes, women’s experiences are marginalised, sometimes completely erased by institutions and also misrepresented. By telling our own stories, it rings attention and visibility to our voices and validates our experiences,” she said.
Mtenje’s collection focuses on themes such as gender and sexuality, violence against women bodies, love, loss and female agency.
After launching the book in Zomba, Mtenje will be taking it to Lilongwe for another launch and later in Blantyre for reading sessions events.
The book, comprising 35 poems, was published by PanAfrican Publishers and is currently available in hard copies.
In a separate interview, Mbvundula, who has worked on her new book for over 10 years, said many writers are discouraged due to economic circumstances.
“Organisations should provide funding to assist female writers. I would not have been able to finish my novel without extra support,” she said.
She encouraged aspiring female writers to be resilient and finish their works and ensure that the country knows what they are capable of.
“Your story is important and we need to hear what women have to say,” she said.
The novel, set in2087, is about a new Malawi where environmental problems have been solved with technology.
