Writing empowers women: Janine Dube
Janine Dube a young Zimbabwean author living in the UK talks to about her new novel, A Dark Horizon, published early this year and the challenges of writing and living in the Diaspora. Born in Bulawayo in the early 80s, and when she was nine her family moved to Harare. In 2000 she moved to the UK where she has studied Fashion and Textiles at Thurrock and Basildon College and Anglia Ruskin University. Janine has had a chance to work with the Royal Opera House on their production of Sun and Heir where she did a short course on screenwriting and made headwear for some of the characters. Being creative is a passion for Janine and when she is not writing she makes headwear and garments.
Where were you born and spent your childhood?
I was born in Bulawayo and lived there until I was nine before we moved to Harare.
Tell me, when and how did your interest in creative writing start?
I always used to create stories in my head and so as soon as I could write I started to put them to paper. From primary school I used to write and share stories with my friends and it’s a passion that has stayed with me.
What is the message or focus of your writings?
My stories are mainly meant to entertain and tell a story from different people’s perspectives. I’m very interested in how politics and economics affect social issues and so I tell my stories with this in mind. The moral of the stories are purely coincidental but I’d love it if the issues I raise initiate debate.
As a young woman writer from Afrika do you consider yourself a feminist?
I wouldn’t like to label myself a feminist though women’s rights and issues are important to me.
And do you think anything has changed in recent years to encourage more African women to participate in the arts, particularly writing and poetry?
Some of the successful African writers in recent years have been women. Good examples are Petina Gappah, Adichie Chimamanda Ngozi and we have the noted the successes of Tsitsi Dangarembga. Women are increasingly becoming empowered and are being accepted for their talents the same as men.
What do you think about the direction and momentum of Zimbabwean literature today?
It’s getting a revival. And I think it’s great because Zimbabweans have always had a strong voice. At this point in the history of our country it can only be a good thing.
As a Zimbabwean writer living and writing in the Diaspora, are you part of a community of writers and how do you keep up with events going on in Zimbabwe and especially if you write about them?
Yes I am part of a community of Zimbabwean writers and the support within this community is incredible and I’m grateful for it. Writing about Zimbabwe from the Diaspora is quite a challenge because I have to rely on my memory and what I see on the news. I keep up to date mainly through the internet and the news. Talking to lots of people and discussing issues also helps to give a human’s perspective and that is invaluable.
Your debut novel – A Dark Horizon – has been receiving a lot of rave reviews. What is it all about? And what inspired it?
I am extremely grateful for the positive reviews. A Dark Horizon is about a young woman who faces a mammoth task of reviving a company that is facing financial ruin. She has to make a lot of tough choices and the increasingly tense situation in Zimbabwe adds to her problems. There is intrigue, deception and romance thrown in the mix to make it an interesting read.
What efforts are you making, if any, to make sure the book is distributed and read in Zimbabwe as well?
I’ve contacted some booksellers in southern Africa and in Zimbabwe and hopefully soon the book will be available there.
What other projects are you working on?
I’m working on my second novel and short stories. When I’m not writing I indulge in my other hobby and make hats and garments. I enjoy being creative and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to do all this.