Pfumo Collective has enlisted a powerful literary and cultural list of facilitators to support and mentor the inaugural cohort.
According to a statement, the list, which includes writer Emmanuel Iduma, author and director of New York University, Accra: Chiké Frankie Edozien, multimedia artist, writer and photographer: Victor Ehikhamennor, and author Ike Echeruo, will serve as guest facilitators alongside the Pfumo Collective’s editorial team: Ellah P. Wakatama and Billy Kahora.
They will be joining the collective in their workshop location of Accra, Ghana where they have partnered with the Goethe Institut to run a 10-day writing workshop programme for the 11 writers selected for their CITIZEN project.
Alongside the workshop, the collective will also be hosting a free cultural event at the Goethe Institut. The event slated to take place on 21st June 2025, will feature the entire list of mentors and facilitators, and will also see Pa Gya and Writer’s Project director, Martin Eglewogbe in conversation with Emmanuel Iduma on ‘War and Memory | How What We Capture Defines What We Remember’. This event is part of the collective’s commitment to enriching the communities into which they host their workshop.
On being invited to be a part of the teaching and mentoring programme by the Collective, the guest facilitators share:
“It’s a pleasure for me to work with the pioneer cohort of the Pfumo Collective. In a fast-changing publishing and media landscape, writers of creative nonfiction in Africa need to be reminded that the promise of humane storytelling is always worth every regimen of rigour. I look forward to our exchanges during the workshop in Accra, and to reading the brilliant work I’m sure each writer will produce.” – Emmanuel Iduma
“It’s very important and honorable for me to be part of building an institution that will help tell our stories and lend agency to both old and new voices in the continent. I hope to consistently contribute to the growth of this worthy initiative.” – Victor Ehikhamenor
“We’re at a moment on our continent where our state of affairs are constantly being defined by others. Be that as it may, our authors continue to share nuanced stories of our complex and joyous realities. A much needed antidote in these times. Pfumo Collective’s emphasis on citizenship highlights this incredible effort.” – Chiké Frankie Edozien
“I am delighted to contribute to the Pfumo Collective and the nurture of new African voices in creative non-fiction.” – Ike Echeruo
Outside of the workshops and the community event, the writers will benefit from a research day with access to The Library of Africa and the African Diaspora (LOATAD) during their time in Accra, Ghana.
For Project Manager, Niki Igbaroola: “Getting the writers to see and access the library is an important part of their development. The library holds so much evidence of the breadth and depth of our history as storytellers across different forms and styles, and we want the writers to know who has come before, and also understand where their work could end up and who it could inform in years to come.”
Thinking beyond Accra and to the educational opportunities that can be derived from the sessions, Pfumo Collective has enlisted The Icarus Company as media partner. They will be capturing a select number of lectures as audio content which the collective hopes to make available and accessible as a teaching tool
for writers across the continent and in the diaspora. Speaking about this partnership, ‘The ICARUS Co. believes firmly in the creativity of Africans and their ability to shine globally. Pfumo Collective is bridging the gap between creative ability and the structure needed to let creative, literary talent flourish. The ICARUs Co. is happy to be a media partner that will help project this initiative in the quality manner that it deserves.’
Interested parties should follow Pfumo Collective across all social media platforms @pfumocollective and sign up to the newsletter to keep up to date with news from the collective.
