Mwansa Mwansa is a final year student at the University of Zambia, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Economics. She won the Zambia Women Writers Association (ZAWWA) award and author of the book, Aquila. Her major passion is helping marginalized communities find their feet and in my effort to do so, volunteers to help children develop a reading culture.
1. What was the moment you knew that you wanted to be an author?
Back in 2008, I went to Sos Hermann Gmeiner basic school in Kitwe. There, I became friends with twins who inspired me to start writing. They always came to school every day with handwritten children’s story books that they had written themselves and made their own illustrations as well. Their books were very famous in my class and everyone would rush to read them the moment they announced them. I was at a point in my life where I was searching for my talent. I could neither sing nor dance hence at that moment, I knew writing was something I could do.
2. What inspired “Aquila”?
Aquila is an old story, it may have come to life only recently but it was inspired by two separate events in my life. The first was when I was growing up, I experienced the prevalence of the HIV pandemic in my community. People were dying from the virus right before our eyes and I knew it was my duty to do something about it and well I read a lot of HIV/AIDS story books and kwatu magazines. The second event was back in high school when the famous comedian Bob Mukosha aka Dorika visited my school. He wanted to meet with the press and drama club members. I was press club president then, a shared office with another colleague. During the meeting, we did an exercise where we created and narrated a sad story in which two children lost their parents to the virus. I decided to finish this story and in 2015 it earned me the Zambia Women Writers Association (ZAWWA) award.
3. What challenges did you face on your journey to getting published?
I must confess that this publishing was an easy ride because it came at no cost. The whole process was sponsored by the Chinese embassy and arranged by ZAWWA, however, my main challenge maybe staying an active writer since Aquila. Writing is a full time job and requires an investment of time which has been a challenge considering I have school work. However, I have made strides to continue by focusing on children’s books. Very soon, the first book will be ready and on book shelves and is titled “cleaning the air”.
4. Any advice for young aspiring authors out there?
Yes, no artist ever gets it right the first time or second time. I wrote Aquila in 2015 but that was the hundredth time I had written it but I still wince at some word choices I made every time I read it. I still doubt my writing even today and I still need a third opinion for any work I do. So don’t wait to be prefect to write, just do it!
AUTHOR:
Sikopo Elizabeth Halubili is an auditor at PwC Zambia. She is passionate about feminism, entrepreneurship and all things agriculture.
