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Barbara Mhangami Ruwende

Lovemore Meya Arts Correspondent
United States-based Zimbabwean writer, Barbara Mhangami Ruwende will lead activities at this year’s literary gathering Literature International Festival with a presentation on “Literature, Stereotypes and Women’s Safety”.

The festival will run from November 26 to 28.

Mhangami Ruwende is expected to make a keynote address on the official opening session of the festival, at the SAPES Trust Auditorium, in Harare.

Event organiser, Chirikure Chirikure said, “The focus of her presentation will be, ‘Literature, Stereotypes and Women’s safety.’ With her background as a writer, academic and specialist in women’s issues, her presentation is expected to bring interesting perspectives to these three dimensions of her expertise.

“The respondent to her address will be Farai Mpfunya, the director of the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust. The session will be moderated by Isabella Matambanadzo, the veteran writer, critic and media practitioner.”

Chirikure said the session was designed not only to give the audience new perspectives, but also to have a close look at literature within the context of women’s day-to-day challenges.

“The open discussion that will come after the presentation will give the audience an opportunity to add their views to those raised by the presenter as well as by the respondent and facilitator.

“This session is one of the festival’s efforts to contribute to the ongoing 16 days of action against gender-based violence. The activities that follow in the next two days will be broad and varied, ranging from discussions, interviews, performances, quizzes and book launches,” he added.

A student’s workshop will also be running concurrently with these activities at venues including University of Zimbabwe, SAPES Trust and Theatre in the Park, the British Council and at Gallery Delta.

Mhangami Ruwende was educated in Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom and in the USA.

She is a scholar-practitioner in public health with a focus on minority women’s sexual and reproductive health, and founder/director of the Africa Research Foundation for the Safety of Women.