Celebrated Zimbabwean writer and film actor Angeline Dimingo has earned a coveted place in the Narratives Against Poverty in Africa anthology, a continental literary project that harnesses storytelling as a tool for social change.
The anthology, spearheaded by the African Narrative Writing Hub, was officially launched at a vibrant ceremony in Gweru recently. Dimingo’s essay, Hope in the Desert, is among the distinguished works selected for the 2025 edition, marking another milestone in her literary career.
The project forms part of the African Writing Programme, an initiative aimed at recognising and celebrating Africa’s diverse literary voices while confronting pressing issues such as poverty, inequality and political instability.
During the launch, organisers announced the winners of the 2025 African Literary Prizes.
The first prize (prose) was scooped by Moira Rakotomalala of Madagascar for Under the Silence of Gold.
The second prize (poetry) went to Dolphine Anyango of Kenya for Lost and Not Found, while the third prize (essays) was awarded to Grace Kakoma of Zambia for Beyond the Brain: Narratives of Poverty, Pain and Possibility in African Education.
In addition to the prize-winning entries, the anthology features several standout works, including Dimingo’s Hope in the Desert, a powerful prose piece reflecting on the human condition within the African context. Other notable contributions include Burden of Stolen Survival by Aneth Marembo (Tanzania) and Litany for the Body That Remembers by Benedict Hangiriza (Tanzania).
While Africa is often portrayed through a narrow lens of conflict and deprivation, Narratives Against Poverty presents a continent rich in culture, history and resilience. Through the voices of its contributors, the anthology highlights not only Africa’s struggles but also its capacity for healing, creativity and progress.
With the anthology now in print, distribution has begun, targeting key institutions such as government departments, embassies, universities, humanitarian organisations and cultural bodies. The initiative aims to promote knowledge-building while supporting global efforts to advance creativity, literacy and cultural heritage.
The selection process was overseen by adjudicators — poet Thando Kuhle Sibanda and writer Chenai Dunduru — with the foreword penned by Simbarashe Chitima of Midlands State University. The panel selected the final entries from more than 1 000 submissions across the African continent.
Zimbabwean writers, who participated in the project, received support from the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and the Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture ministry.
