Ekari Writes

Left to Right: Pius Nyondo, Me, Tiseke Chilima, and Hagai Magai I had the great honour of participating in my first ever writing workshop, and it was nothing short of mind blowing! It was a thrilling union of seasoned published authors from Africa and beyond, and 10 young, unpublished but enthusiastic, Malawian writers from different backgrounds. Being one of the second group, I valued the unique opportunity to pick the brains of those who have walked the path that I am working towards reaching one day. That path leads to the out of world experience I’ve pictured countless times – holding a printed and bound novel in my hands with my name on it. Opportunities like these aren’t common enough in Malawi, and I commend Shadreck Chikoti and Trine Andersen for initiating such a project, that I pray is the beginning of even more activities which nurture the nation’s writing industry. It was well organised, enjoyed by all involved, and taken as seriously as it needed to be in order

I've had a few requests to share info on the products I use on my hair to achieve the looks I have tried. I am no expert yet, and a lot of it is trial and error. I learnt that there is no "magical" one-size-fits-all product combination, but you have to try and find the ones that match your hair. And because there is no manual, trial and error is the only way! It obviously also depends on availability of the products in your area, and your personal preferences. That said, if you think your hair texture is similar to mine, then maybe you are more likely to find your "hair match" products amongst the ones I have begun to trust. These are all available in South Africa: From Left to Right: Olive Miracle Anti-Breakage Creme - I find this so amazing for instant softening for pain-free combing. I use it as often as I need to, and also apply it before I condition with oils. Sof'n'free Styling Gel - I applied it to my hair (in additio

It's been quite awhile since my first post about my   transition to natural hair . Since then my hair has grown quite a bit, but then I had to cut it again for reasons I'll explain later... But before I do, I'd like to review my progress since the Big Chop, and the lessons I've learnt on the way. I tend to alternate my hair styles between braiding and free afro, depending on the seasons and my moods. Bantu Knots I'm a real fan of this style. I was lucky enough to find a hair dresser in my area who can do pretty much any style that I describe or find a picture of. I asked Hilda to mix cornrows and bantu knots and I loved the results! Twists and Cornrows This style was done by two strand twists in the front section, and cornrows on the rest of the hair. I liked it, but wanted my twists to be longer. Oh, the patience!  Wool Braids Wool (or yarn) was braided into my hair, and the ends were burnt to seal them. I liked the look, and

Acting classes are fun! I recently joined the Voice 2 Act  weekend classes in Johannesburg, where I have been learning a ton about my own acting range and how to expand it. It's a great opportunity to meet actors from different backgrounds and experiences, who all strive towards one goal - to create the best scene possible.  We usually will work on a scene for a month, including character studies, rehearsals and exploring different ways of delivering the lines. Then the best segment of our scene is shot on camera so we can watch ourselves perform.... *gulp*! The first scene I worked on is called "Privacy". It opens on a tabloid journalist who is viciously confronted by a well known actor, regarding a nasty rumour that the actor denies fully. The journalist doesn't back down, and the result is quite an engaging conflict. In this short clip of the scene, I play the journalist: Hopefully you enjoyed that! Your thoughts and constructive feedback are welcome,

When I first fell in love with urban fantasy stories, I began longing for books which had great fantastical elements but were  based   closer   to home , rather than in the typical American or British backdrop. I found a lot of African fiction, but rarely found anything targeted at young adults. There were either folk stories for very young readers, or depressing case study type stories, often strictly set in rural Africa and seemed to simply check all the NGO interest  boxes   – poverty, AIDS, and tragedy. While these stories were often well written and important in highlighting the issues, they were far too monotonous for me when it came to mood and pacing. They became clichés of the "hut and dust" Africa, leaving the cities that I've lived in largely invisible in the narratives... or else the urban locations featured as a strange contrast for the village based main characters. I wanted stories with the pace, creativity, and excitement of Harry Potter, Artemis Fo