In this piece, we explore the work done by Ambassador Chengeto Mayowe Jnr on how she imparts knowledge acquired over time to teach others on culture. She has not let language become a barrier to impart this knowledge but allowed it to transcends through different geographical boundaries.

1. Who is Chengeto Mayowe?

I am a poet, spoken word artist, author, public speaker and an Ambassador for cultural heritage also known as Ambassador Mayowe Jnr. I champion this through my writing, public appearances and poetry. I have 8 books to my name, 3 poetry and 5 fictional books based on Zimbabwean mythology, culture and customs. 

2. Tell me about the book project

Kuisa nhorondo dzebato muzvinyorwa dzine hutangamiriri hwedu kubva muchimurenga cherusununguko zvatipa nhasi kuti tive nyika ine runyararo. It’s a book series made up of 5 books for children aged 0-8years, centered around a 5 year old girl called Nyenyedzi from Vumba in the Manicaland province. It’s been translated into 15 languages, 11 of which are indigenous to Zimbabwe and the SADC region. It will be in English, Karanga, Ndebele, Tonga, Ndau, Nambya, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu, Shangan,Swahili,Budya, French, German and Portuguese. The book introduces familial relationships, totems and aspects of our culture. My father, the late national hero Ambassador John Mayowe used to tell me ngano as a child, and my mother taught me cultural aspects. Nekuti kukura kwevana kuziva vachiri pwere, hakuna tsika inodzidzwa wakura. Nekuti kudzidza wakura kunenge kurwadziwa. 

3. How did the book project begin?

Zvinhu zvandinosangana nazvo pamazuva ano nhasi nezvakare ndozvandipa hanya neshungu ekunyora mabook kutsika dzedu. I wasn’t intending to write books for children at all but mukufamba nekurarama I found myself writing and knew I had to make it a series. It was after some public talks I did on cultural preservation and representation that made me realise that not all ethnic groups are included or represented in Zimbabwe. In my quest to speak on our culture and know more I realised I know nothing at all, asi kudzidza hakuperi. The books to me were a way for me to teach in the simplest of ways what I learnt over the years since childhood nekuti kuziva zvauri kuziva kugara. 

4. What inspired the book origination?

Representation and inclusion. I never saw myself or someone with any of my names in books and I realised that I wanted inclusion but not just through visuals but through language as well. Children must see themselves represented in the books they read and relate in a positive way. Also our children are intelligent but we must also strengthen this by giving them literature in their dialect. This ensures that the culture remains alive and strong and brings awareness and respect to the ethnic groups that the language belongs to. 

It’s also in fulfillment of His Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s call for devolution when it comes to equalisation for all provinces. Granted I am yet to translate to all of our local languages but it’s work in progress. 

For so long books have been in Shona or Ndebele or English but even with Shona itself there are dialects belonging to ethnic groups and these must be respected and recognized. The word shona was used as a term to bunch together the languages spoken by dialects that sounded the same. I wish to honor the differences. 

5. What sets your book apart from all those that we have seen on the market?

I would definitely say the aspect of inclusion. I was intentional when it came to the languages, names and the fact that I specifically wanted bits of our culture sprinkled liberally. Some of these languages can be found in our neighbouring countries as well as up in Kenya where Swahili is spoken. It connects countries through literature, my version of Africa without borders. If I can be so bold as to say I’m exercising cultural diplomacy through literature. 

6. Have you used this opportunity to mentor others and growing children to nurture their talent?

Of course I have been doing this prior to

this project actually and have so far donated over 120 books since I began book drives in 2022. I have a non profit MambokadziBuilds Foundation whose sole mission is to stimulate cultural empowerment in communities, through initiatives that will strengthen cultural identity, heritage and pride all whilst stimulating economic activity, which is line with the NDS1 agenda. My motto for my non profit is Kuvaka pwere kuvaka nhaka yenyika. This is in line with His Excellency’s call to action “nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”. After all the basis for anyone growing up is the information they take in. Something that the First Lady Amai Mnangagwa has been championing through her initiative with gastric tourism, national dress and the environment. 

7. Talk about the platforms you have selected to market your book and what makes them unique.

Physically I am happy to announce I will be doing a book tour under the hashtag #FriendsOfNyenyedzi Book Tour starting end of June leading up to the book launch on the 10th of August 2024. My book tour will be touching on all 10 provinces and I aim to go deep down to better understand the different ethnic groups that make up Zimbabwe as well as doing storytelling in schools in their mother tongues. I want to embrace my other side and tell the story of Zimbabwe but through my books and the interactions I will have. I am open to sponsors as well as partnering with those interested in disseminating culture in less privileged areas around the country. Our children are our legacy and we need to ensure they’re reading right, eating right and living right. 

Online I am marketing my books via Instagram,FB and Twitter with the handle being AdventuresOfNyenyedzi as well as a whatsapp channel Adventures Of Nyenyedzi.