New Interview at Mos Oa Tunya Review, a new Zimbabwean Journal

 

"Voices of the African Diaspora: An Interview with Emmanuel Sigauke", by Tendai Machingaidze, Editor at Mosi Oa Tunya Review

TM: What role do African and other immigrant writers play in shaping cultures and societies around the world?

ES: It is refreshing to witness growing trends of inclusivity in publishing. The work is nowhere closer to be complete, but there is growing awareness by readers of perspectives from Africa that do not just present one story about the continent, but as implied by Chimamanda Adichie in her single-story TED talk, a multiplicity of voices.

Having worked closely with some of the Diaspora African writers, I know they would be the first ones to say that they are not in it to shape any global anything, or to operate in some kind of representational capacity—they are just writing. But their presence in this global milieu is important as it offers many viewpoints to readers who might be trained to think of writing as one thing and one thing alone. The many stories (we need more) about the continent help dispel the few stereotypes some readers may have about African experiences. Likewise, African writers setting stories in other countries bring home African experiences in the diaspora, experiences that help readers have a non-stereotypical view of the diaspora. I am reminded of books like We Need New Names, Harare North, and The Mathematician, the Magistrate, and the Maestro, and others that follow the Zimbabwean characters into the Diaspora. In their stories we read about the complexities of diaspora stories.

We are also in a time when there is a need to appreciate what each society has to contribute to our global understanding of life. In academia, I am seeing whole English departments changing to be more inclusive of different voices. Gone are the days when the English major focuses mainly on British and American Literature. There is more to literature than this.

Read the full interview at Mosi Oa Tunya Review.