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Priscilla Magazini
Youth Interactive Correspondent
She is on cloud nine not that she is launching her second book, but has invested much in the project.
This is the story of Hillside student Keith Marufu who is ecstatic that she will rub shoulders with some of her role models at the launch scheduled for December 16.
The book title is, ‘When I Grow Up’ and will be revealed at Jason Mphepo’s Little Theatre in Eastlea, Harare.
In an interview with the Youth Interactive section, Marufu said preparations are at an advanced stage for the launch which will see renowned authors and speakers attending.
“I am happy with progress so far,” she said.“The launch will be graced by performances from Mambo Guruwatunhu, Mwana WaGidza, renowned Aurthur Marara, and doctor Manners Musongelwa, among others.”
Marufu said she was pushed by the need to inspire the present generation.
“I felt the need to write a memoir.”
“Memoirs are usually written by old people who use the power of their words to give out their experiences, l am a good critic mind hence l thought, how possible is it for a memoir written by someone from 1890 to inspire the present generation, my age Ama 2k,” said Marufu.
She said that the book is centered on her childhood and fully resonates with the current generation.
“We all know the matter of revolution new ideologies and a change of norms and values with all these in mind l knew if l wrote a book about my childhood that fits with the current generation, we share the same”
“I wrote the book to communicate life matters, how divorce can trigger trauma in children through my background,” she added.
The young writer believes that writing a memoir at her age is a transformative tool as it expresses her ability to tell her stories on paper.
“Currently l have released a memoir that talks about my childhood trauma when l grows up ‘I desire to help parents know the intimate world of their children, understand emotions and help those struggling with trauma to heal through my book,” she said.
Marufu said would love her book to be an amplified voice to other people who are survivors of trauma.
“I want them to have hope and confidence.”
“From the book launch l am planning a survivor’s boot camp that will offer therapy sessions to anyone who’s going through trauma, and stress among other things.”
The young writer said it was through her background that she discovered writing is a therapeutic tool to silence her unseen wounds.
“When l faced the void at home, l was hurt. I went through hardship at a tender age.”
“In 2020, l lost my stepdad from Covid-19. Life was hard and l came to Harare in search of work and the only on my plate was being a maid. l then became one”, she explained.
“l was lucky to multi-task, work, and being an advanced level student” She said was able to pay her own school fees money.
“I paid my school fees with my salary that’s when l wrote a poetry anthology during the course, ‘Leaves of Love’ and l published it with the help of advocate Arthur Marara and Dr Manners Musongelwa”.
During that hardship ‘leaves of Love the poetry anthology that was nominated as the best poetry anthology of the year 2023 poetry red carpet awards she says.
“I had no one to communicate my feelings, so I find pleasure in reading stories from textbooks, my essays were inspirational.”
“After the divorce of my parents, l tried to contemplate suicide as l felt a void after settling with my new family. In 2016, the story was different as l now lived with my stepdad. l continued to write until my English teacher, Mr Vamwe saw the talent within me and persuaded me to be serious but he did not realize l was a trauma victim,” explained the author.
Marufu said her role models are Tsitsi Dangaregbwa, Drew Barrymore, and J.K Rowling.
“l would love to archive certain things in my writing and also be able to communicate to many people.”
“We want to create a safe space to engage equipment and empower vulnerable families towards family cohesion to mitigate the effects of adverse childhood experiences,” she said.
Online Reporter