Rising women’s empowerment champion Ruvimbo Patience Mandimika has launched her book titled Diaries of a Strong Black Woman, which seeks to build resilience in women to overcome challenges emanating from their historical marginalisation.
Mandimika is a holder of a bachelors degree in human resource management from the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) and an additional qualification in Theatre and Arts Performance with Zimbabwe Theatre Academy where she enhanced her skills in writing and acting.
At the launch, Mandimika took to the stage, sharing her journey and inspiration behind her latest offering stating that “she wrote this book for every black woman who has ever felt marginalised, oppressed or silenced”.
“I want this book to be a beacon of hope and a reminder that our stories matter,” she added.
The event featured a powerful panel discussion with esteemed guests, including Coach Tanya Mazoe, and Nicole Ruvimbo Marara with her publisher Takudzwa Gochero of Golden Mansion Publishers moderating the panel discussion.
The panel discussion centred on themes of identity, role and duties of women in the African context, masculinity, and the importance of representation in all facets.
In the book, Mandimika shares a powerful and poignant account of resilience, strength, and determination. Mandimika said her book was aimed at inspiring women whom she says had been historically marginalised, silenced, and overlooked.
Through the diary entries of Ketai, we gain an intimate glimpse into the life of a woman who refuses to be defined by the circumstances that seek to break her. Faced with the tempestuous winds of adversity, Ketai, a resilient African woman stands at the threshold of a journey riddled with thorns, Betrayed by the promise of a brighter future, she is left to fend for herself and her children in the wake of her husband’s departure. Life’s relentless onslaught of hardships descends upon her, each one a cruel reminder of the fragility of hope.
Mandimika’s book is more than a personal narrative but a beacon of hope, call to action and a stark reminder that black women’s lives matter. In a world that often seeks to diminish their voices and erase their experiences, the book is a defiant declaration of existence, strength, and beauty.
The panelists at the launch described the book as a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of black womanhood, and a powerful reminder that our stories, our voices, and our lives are worthy of being heard, seen and celebrated.
Mandimika’s work is mostly influenced by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Tsitsi Dangarembga.
She is a true aficionado of Shakespeare’s work as well. Ruvimbo is also a blogger who writes about issues that concern and affect women with her central themes being centered around instilling resilience, and hope and solidifying the unbreakable spirit of black women.