Angeline Dimingo Featured in Prestigious African Literary Anthology

Celebrated Zimbabwean writer and film actor Angeline Dimingo has earned a place in the 2025 edition of the Narratives Against Poverty in Africa anthology, a continental literary project that uses storytelling to drive social change. Dimingo’s essay, Hope in the Desert, is among the distinguished works selected, marking a significant milestone in her literary career.

The anthology is spearheaded by the African Narrative Writing Hub and was officially launched at a vibrant ceremony in Gweru. It forms part of the African Writing Programme, an initiative designed to showcase Africa’s diverse literary voices while addressing pressing issues such as poverty, inequality, and political instability.

During the launch, organisers also announced the winners of the 2025 African Literary Prizes. First prize in prose was awarded to Moira Rakotomalala of Madagascar for Under the Silence of Gold. The second prize in poetry went to Dolphine Anyango of Kenya for Lost and Not Found, while third prize in essays was presented to Grace Kakoma of Zambia for Beyond the Brain: Narratives of Poverty, Pain and Possibility in African Education.

In addition to these award-winning entries, the anthology features several standout contributions. Dimingo’s Hope in the Desert reflects on the human condition within the African context, combining vivid storytelling with social insight. Other notable works include Burden of Stolen Survival by Aneth Marembo of Tanzania and Litany for the Body That Remembers by Benedict Hangiriza, also from Tanzania.

Narratives Against Poverty challenges stereotypical portrayals of Africa as a continent defined by conflict and deprivation. Through the voices of its contributors, the anthology highlights resilience, creativity, and the capacity for progress, showing a more nuanced and authentic African experience.

Distribution of the anthology has begun, targeting key institutions including government departments, embassies, universities, humanitarian organisations, and cultural bodies. The project aims to promote literacy, creativity, and cultural heritage while supporting knowledge-building across the continent.

The selection process was overseen by adjudicators poet Thando Kuhle Sibanda and writer Chenai Dunduru, with the foreword written by Simbarashe Chitima of Midlands State University. The panel carefully reviewed more than 1,000 submissions from across Africa to finalise the entries. Zimbabwean participants received support from the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, enabling local talent to gain continental recognition.

Dimingo’s inclusion in the anthology reinforces her status as a leading voice in Zimbabwean literature, and positions her work within a broader African narrative of creativity and social consciousness.