malvernmugadzikwa
Sunday Mail Correspondent
Chengeto Rufaro Mayowe is an author, publisher, spoken word artiste and cultural heritage ambassador with a deep love for Zimbabwean culture.
HER love for storytelling was ignited at a young age, when she used to listen to her father’s folktales.
Though she grew up in a foreign land, her parents ensured she learnt all aspects of Zimbabwean culture, including respecting and greeting elderly people, as well as kneeling when serving them with food.
“We must start writing our own stories, as opposed to having our history being told on our behalf by foreigners,” she said.
“That is why I began writing fiction.”
Mayowe has penned five fictional books centred around Zimbabwean mythology, traditions, customs and culture.
She recently spoke at an international TEDx Talks platform, which has over 38 million online subscribers.
Mayowe spoke on the importance of representation and preserving culture.
She took the crowd through her journey of discovering, the beauty of Zimbabwean culture and why she was proud of it.
She stated that learning one’s culture was not an event but a continuous process.
She lobbied for the inclusion of national languages in school curriculums and visual explainers to assist children in learning about their culture.
In addition, Mayowe called for the creation of interactive digital applications to assist young people in learning about their culture.
“These are areas that still require some work and with the right dedication, commitment and collaboration, it can be done,” she said.
“Citizens, young and old, are looking to learn more about their culture, which predates colonialism.
“Without culture, there is no history and without history, there is no identity.
“Now more than ever, it is imperative we uncover and tell the stories that make up the mosaic of our culture.”
She said she believed in the power of representation.
Mayowe said this was something that she strives to do when writing her novels.
She said her books also explore the sanctity of sacred areas, everyday customs, taboos and many other aspects of the Zimbabwean culture.
Her passion for promoting Zimbabwean culture and heritage saw her gifting President Mnangagwa some of her literary titles recently.
She said she is following in the footsteps of her late father, Ambassador John Mayowe, through her desire to promote the development of Zimbabwe and her culture.
Aside from speaking about culture, Mayowe also donates Zimbabwean literary works to underprivileged communities.
She said this is one of the many ways through which she is helping preserve Zimbabwe’s rich culture.
To learn more about Mayowe, follow her on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram on @ChengetoMayowe
Online Reporter