Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
TWO writers from Bulawayo have teamed up to channel life’s struggles, producing a collaborative two-part series titled Perplexitas Reverie and Perplexitas Reverie Twain (Part Two).
Amanda Sibanda, a budding scientist and women’s empowerment advocate, and award-winning poet Dumisani Albert Matewe, popularly known as “Ruthless_inc,”say the books were born out of a desire to create a safe space where people can confront life’s unanswered questions.
The Latin-titled series, which means “Random Thoughts”, combines poetry and reflective writing, exploring themes such as mental health, faith, identity, love and resilience.
“What inspired these books is how people go through different experiences in life but often don’t have answers. We wanted to build a platform where we talk about those experiences and how they can be navigated,” Sibanda said.
Though coming from different backgrounds, the pair say their writing styles complement each other.
Sibanda brings faith-driven reflections on healing and empowerment while Matewe adds poetic intensity and imagery. Most pieces began individually before being shaped together.
“Every piece is truly a collaboration. One of us might start a poem and the other completes it. In the end, you can’t tell who wrote what.”
Their contrasting influences —Sibanda’s scientific metaphors and Matewe’s layered poetic language — required constant dialogue and compromise.
“It required listening, learning from each other and refining every piece together,” she said.
Matewe described the process as both challenging and rewarding.
“Merging our crafts pushed me to grow. I even researched scientific concepts to match her references. It helped us create something unique,” he said.
The books draw heavily from personal experiences. Matewe says writing became a form of therapy as he explored mental health, family pressures and emotional strain. For Sibanda, her work with women’s empowerment initiatives shaped much of her message.
“I wanted the book to impart healing and remind people not to lose hope, even in difficult times,” she said.
Released after a two-year journey, the project marks Sibanda’s publishing debut and another milestone for Matewe as he expands his literary footprint.
Together, the duo say they hope the books encourage readers to reflect, heal and find strength in their own stories. — @MbuleloMpofu
