People of Afrobloggers – A Visual Story

This post is for Day 3 of the Afrobloggers Winter Challenge.

One valuable concept I have read is that People buy People. The story of the People of Afrobloggers is testament to this on a personal level.

My first interaction with Beaton was motivated by self-interest: I was hosting a listening session to launch an EP, Solemn Silhouette. I reached out to people on social media to attend my event. As it were, one of the people I invited was @Beatonm5. He was going to make an effort to attend.

Unfortunately, he had a prior engagement and could not make it. For those that did, there was a dissonance between the event and the poetry. Sombre, reflective words to a vibrant, social audience.

My next interaction with Beaton was motivated by self-interest. Again. You see, Beaton has a blog he writes called Becoming the Muse

He was doing a competition to celebrate its 6^th Anniversary. There was a prize to be won. A PRIZE!!! I did what was needed and I won J Do not say you cannot win things on the internet!

After he had shown himself to be a man of honour, I had to return the favour. So, when I wanted to write about Winky D’s Bittersweet Ijipita Peak, I did that as a guest writer on Becoming the Muse.

A few weeks later, I attended a show at Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre in Harare.

People really like Vagina Monologues. It was, after all, a full house.

One of the people in attendance was none other than Beaton himself! He even wrote a review.

We managed to speak after. About Vagina Monologues, about coffee, about cocktails at art events, about life, about currency, about value, about writing, about writer’s block, about authenticity, about obstacles, about being. As well the organization that he is affiliated with known as Afrobloggers.

I wanted more. More African voices, and stories, and experiences, and writers and perspectives. So, I invested in reading. Reading the many blogs from African storytellers, especially through the Afrobloggers Winter Challenge.

While my blog was being developed, I could not participate in the challenge as a writer. Valentine Writes was launched on the 1^st of July 2020, a day after the challenge was concluded. But, I did participate as a reader, and that was immensely rewarding.

After the challenge was done, I was sure that I wanted to connect deeply and valuably with African content creators. In that respect, I was pleased to be a host on Share N Shine, an Afrobloggers Twitter takeover on Sunday the 19^th of July 2020.

That experience was so fulfilling, I had to do it again. So, the week of the 3rd of August 2020, I am taking over the Afrobloggers Instagram page. Including, a dedication to W.I.L.D.F.I.R.E

Africa is full of struggle and strife, joy and jubilation, innovation and ingenuity, opportunity and challenges. These are as varied, unique and colourful as the continent is.