The published stories of Africa and her people have been predominately framed through Western and often patriarchal lenses. This has resulted in the marginalisation of the perspectives and the misrepresentation of the voices of African women. The limited body of literature by African authors across genres presents an urgency for a landscape which is a more accurate representation and narrative of the societies that exists. While there has been a steady increase in such literature since the dawn of independence by African states, along with the growth of feminist politics in the continent, there remains a significant gap in the strides of progress which is evident when looking at literature used in mainstream media, found in public libraries, housed within academic institutions and wider society such as bookstores.
Addressing this gap and with the vision to bring a fresh and practical meaning to enablement, the African Women Writers’ Circle initiative was conceptualised to offer women working in the development sector with the physical space, professional guidance, and peer support that would enable them to honour their stories, document their memories and experiences, and put words to paper that would contribute to the library of literature written by Africans, for Africans.
The Writers’ Circle was co-conceptualised by Korto Reeves and Masego Madzwamuse, both of whom are development sector writers, thought leaders, and practitioners with extensive backgrounds in advocacy, movement building, and development across the continent. Their vision was to create and curate a space that nurtured creativity, fostered healing, and amplified the voices of African women and gender non-conforming persons. Together they envisioned a programme that would bring women and gender non-conforming individuals together to navigate their experiences, tell their stories, and shape narratives. This vision is firmly rooted in the feminist ideals that view rest as an act of transformation and revolution, healing as a reclamation of identity, and respect for the knowledge and experiences that each woman tells.
“Don’t talk about writing. Don’t whine about writing. Don’t spend all your time obsessing over who wins what award. Write”
Nnedi Okorafor
The programmatic work of the Writers Circle began in 2024 with institutional support from the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) through its Adɔyɛ programme which focuses on the impact of women in African philanthropy, and the Nawi Eco-Feminist Collective, along with financial support from its partners. Following months of planning, consultation and curation, the first writing retreat was ready to be hosted. The retreat is envisioned as a space where invited writers would commit time to unfinished or idea-phase projects while being nurtured within a community that writes alongside them.
The Adɔyɛ programme, which focuses on the role and impact of women in African philanthropy, played a pivotal role in co-hosting the retreat, aligning with its commitment to centering African agency, knowledge, and lived experiences in philanthropic and intellectual spaces. Adɔyɛ, under the leadership of Thandi Makhubele, actively cultivates spaces for African women to document, share, and amplify their voices in ways that honour diverse philanthropic narratives, histories, and practices across the continent. Recognising that knowledge creation is a critical component of transfoyermative philanthropy, Adɔyɛ provided essential support in ensuring that the retreat not only nurtured creative expression but also contributed to the broader landscape of African women’s thought leadership and literary presence.
The first step in convening the retreat was to invite women from the continent and its diaspora, with the convenors thoughtfully considering ways to convene an inclusive space for a dynamic group of writers. The next step was to invite writing guides (or coaches) who had the expertise to work with the writers as a group and individually through the various themes, styles and techniques that would bring their stories to life. Finally, the convenors looked for a secluded physical space that would house the writers for an extended period, which also offered the resources necessary to tap into their creative potential.
A cohort of 17 writers representing 15 countries from the continent and its diaspora confirmed their participation. From published authors to emerging development practitioners and leaders in the philanthropy sector, the cohort was a strong example of diversity in every sense of the word. The writing guides in attendance were renowned and award-winning authors Joyce Nyairo from Kenya, and Zukiswa Wanner from South Africa. Joyce is a columnist, essayist, and publisher who is known for her work that reflects on the intersection of politics, identity, and culture, while Zukiswa is a novelist, journalist, and publisher whose work whose writing brings readers of all ages into the lives of Africans across the continent.
The retreat was hosted at the Wits Rural Facility which is uniquely situated along the border of Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces within a nature reserve. This location offered a secure and secluded environment which also provided modern amenities, making it conducive to a productive and memorable stay. With the location and participants confirmed, the daily programme of the retreat was thoughtfully designed to include space and time for group workshops, peer learning, individual coaching, individual writing, various forms of rest, and social time.
In true progressive collaboration, Nawi, CAPSI and the funding partners allocated resources that ensured safe travel, accommodation and catering, and the provision of sufficient on-the-ground resources. They also provided inclusive administration which enabled all aspects of the retreat to be coordinated for a productive and memorable experience. As progressive institutions in their capacities, CAPSI and Nawi share a common vision of supporting efforts that will grow the body of work written by Africans and African women that contribute to inclusive development efforts.
“What we also know is that whatever the reason for the scant documentation (of the lives of women in the liberation movement), the result is that our written knowledge of their joys and struggles and their incredible resilience is regrettably undocumented and unavailable to future generations.”
Nozipho January-Bardill
The objective of the Writers’ Circle retreat was to contribute to growing the body of writing authored by women on the continent through a practical platform. The Writers’ Circle recognises the significance of re-politicising African women on and access to wellness, care and healing as vital elements of their work. Throughout the 12-day retreat, the writing guides conducted workshop sessions that covered topics such as:
- Finding form
- Feminist approaches to narrative structure
- Defining elements of style
- Rewriting and editing
- Forms of publishing
Each of the participants used the time and guidance to immerse themselves in their respective projects, emerging with a piece of writing that will be developed through further support that the initiative has committed to provide. These diverse documentation of experiences and stories served as a powerful expression of African women reflecting on topics that contribute to the discourse and narrative on political and class struggles, economic justice, neoliberal hegemonies, and the many forms of violence; all of which urgently require a feminist lens as the world navigates several ongoing changes and new struggles.
In addition to the programme’s schedule, participants engaged in peer-led initiatives such as group walks, breathwork and meditation sessions, and evening readings, all of which strengthened the bonds of connection amongst participants. In addition to this, participants were invited as guests on the Conversation on African Philanthropy Podcast, a rapidly growing platform that profiles the voices of practitioners and contributors to philanthropy on the continent. Their participation will be published in a special series which will also honour their writing journeys.
The culmination of this first retreat will be a published anthology that will be aptly titled “Eclectic Ululations.” This will be a collection of creative fiction, reflective non-fiction, poetry, and other creative forms that will celebrate the first cohort and accepted the invitation to write with boldness and courage. The title is a fitting tribute to the diverse stories and voices that will be contained within the anthology.
“For us Africans, literature must serve a purpose: to expose, embarrass, and fight corruption and authoritarianism.”
Ama Ata Aidoo
The work of the African Women Writers’ Circle is set to continue, with plans for the second retreat for the first cohort and preparations for the second cohort in 2026 already underway. The vision for this initiative is bold, dynamic, and birthed at a time when the voices of African women are needed, now more than ever.
The Women’s Writers Circle acknowledges with appreciation the generous support of The Oak Foundation, TrustAfrica, CODESRIA, and the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), whose contributions have made this initiative possible.
Cohort participants
| Name | Country |
| Agazit Abate | Ethiopia |
| Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi | Nigeria |
| Brenda Mofya | Zambia |
| Chulu Chansa | Zambia |
| Coumba Toure | Senegal |
| Crystal Simeoni | Kenya |
| Dierdre Williams | Trinidad & Tobago |
| Huguette Diakabana | Democratic Republic of Congo |
| Ingel Sabrina Clay | Liberia |
| Jackie Asiimwe | Uganda |
| Janet Mawiyoo | Kenya |
| Leila Hessini | Algeria |
| Lethumusa Kulube | South Africa |
| Masego Madzwamuse | Botswana |
| Nyamal Tutdeal | South Sudan/Ethiopia |
| Sibongile ‘Bongi’ Mkhabela | South Africa |
| Wame Kealeboga Mogopodi | Botswana |
