Online Reporter
Tafadzwa Zimoyo-Zimpapers Entertainment Editor
AS Women’s Month invites reflection on the voices shaping culture, creativity and community, songwriter and television personality-cum-author Adiona Chidzonga is adding her own chapter to that narrative through storytelling.
Her debut children’s book, “The Secret Under The Stone”, launched recently, emerges as both a personal milestone and a quiet but powerful statement about women’s creativity, African imagination and the responsibility of nurturing young minds in a rapidly changing world.
The book is about dreaming big, giving hope to children that they can make it.
In an interview with Zimpapers Entertainment Hub, Adiona said her writing was inspired by societal settings, especially childhood backgrounds.
“At heart, I’m a storyteller,” Adiona said.
“I love stories, especially those that spark imagination.”
That love sits at the centre of her first published work, a book written to remind children that dreaming is natural, curiosity is powerful and imagination has no limits.
In a month that celebrates women breaking barriers and owning their voices, Adiona’s literary debut reflects the growing presence of Zimbabwean women shaping the cultural landscape through art and ideas.
Although, “The Secret Under The Stone” marks her first published book, Adiona’s creative journey stretches far beyond the page. She has written numerous songs over the years, using music as her primary form of expression.
Still, stepping into authorship carried special meaning.
“I have not published anything before. This is my very first book,” she said.
“I have written plenty of songs, but this is my debut as an author, and that makes it very special to me.”
Her decision to write a children’s book was intentional.
For Adiona, children represent freedom — freedom from fear, doubt and limitation.
“I have written a children’s book because of the limitless imagination that children have,” she explains.
“They are not afraid to dream, and I absolutely love it.”
That philosophy flows naturally through the story, which gently encourages young readers to explore their ideas and trust their creativity.
While imaginative, the book is also grounded in familiarity.
Adiona was intentional about creating a story that local children could see themselves in.
“As a Zimbabwean author, I am excited to share a story that reflects our local experiences,” she said.
“I want our children to see themselves in stories and feel inspired to tell their own.”
The book’s journey from manuscript to publication was one of patience and collaboration. Written years ago, “The Secret Under The Stone”, remained a quiet dream until encouragement and support helped bring it to life.
Illustrator Taremeredzwa Chirewa played a key role in translating the story’s imagination into vivid visuals, adding another layer of meaning for young readers.
For Adiona, the process reaffirmed the importance of believing in creative ideas, even when time passes.
“Sometimes a story waits for the right moment,” she reflects.
“And when it does, it reminds you why you wrote it in the first place.”
Her literary influences are firmly rooted in African excellence.
Adiona names Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Pettinah Gappah as her favourite writers, citing their ability to tell African stories with confidence and global resonance.
Their work, she says, reinforces her belief that African voices — particularly women’s voices — deserve space, respect and visibility.
Often described as multi-talented, Adiona embraces her many creative roles with humility.
“I have been called gifted, yes,” she said, laughing.
“I always say my gifts are God-given. I never went to school for my artistic gifts, so I use them without fear, in honour of the One who gave them to me.”
Alongside writing, she continues to sing, present on television and run a business, a balancing act she finds energising rather than exhausting.
“The whole lot makes me tick,” she said.
At the heart of her book, however, is a deep concern for literacy and reading culture, particularly among children. In an era shaped by technology, Adiona believes books still hold irreplaceable value.
“I think the literacy world in general is something that should be guarded fiercely,” she said.
“Considering the tech times we are living in, technology is the future, but there’s still something very special about flipping through the pages of a book.”
For her, the foundation begins at home and in early childhood. “It all begins by cultivating a reading culture in our children,” Adiona explains.
“If children fall in love with books early, that love stays with them. Stories shape how they see the world and how they see themselves.”
As Women’s Month continues to spotlight women making meaningful contributions, Chidzonga’s debut stands as a reminder that storytelling is both creative expression and cultural preservation.
