Unboxing Margaret Muthee

Interview by Marvel Nimurungi

Margaret Muthee is a trained journalist and creative writer from Kenya. Her short stories have been published by One Throne Magazine, Lawino Magazine, Brittle Paper, and Bahati books which published ‘A Season for Mending’ (A short story collection). Margaret also has published various children’s books with Nabu.org. and Storymoja. Margaret and I hopped on Zoom to unbox her writing journey looking particularly at the piece she published with Agbowo, Pain Like Growing Wings. In our conversation, we talked about the power of mentorship and writing communities, themes in our writing, and how current events can often inspire our storytelling. I loved hearing from Margaret and I think you will too.

MARVEL

Hi, Margaret. I’m so excited to have you on here in our unbox series, where we dig a little deeper with our own published creatives and writers. For starters, could you tell us where you are at this moment and even how you’re doing as we get into this.

MARGARET

Oh, Hi! My name is Margaret Muthe. I hope that you can hear me. I’m in a place called Yeri, a town called Miri. It’s in Kenya, and this is where I grew up. This is where I was born. So it’s a bit far from Nairobi. It’s like a two-hour drive away from Nairobi. It’s home.

MARVEL

Well, Margaret, thank you again for being here and taking the time. Tell us a bit about yourself as it pertains to writing. When did you begin? Would you enter a room and define and introduce yourself as a writer? 

MARGARET

So I’m a trained journalist and a creative writer. I can identify myself as that competently. I started out in journalism, though I started writing way earlier during high school. That’s when I started writing, but mostly during this time, it was poetry. And even after high school, where I spent more time at home before I joined Campus. I used to write poetry just to pass away time and to express my feelings.

I was at home for quite some time. So this is when I started exploring and writing. Later I joined Day University. It’s a private institution here in Kenya. I studied broadcast media communications. So during this time again, I went on to write mostly generalistic pieces or stories. So basically, this is where it all started, writing stories in different formats, but mostly now for broadcast in full radio. After university, trying to find my footing in the job market, I bumped into Quanitras, the publishing house.

And this is where my creative writing dust came from because during this event I met so many writers. I got to enjoy readings and hanging out with writers. I joined later as an intern and then worked with Vilicahora as a workshop assistant. I met so many writers during this time, and my craving for learning the craft grew. I wanted to learn more about how to express myself in a creative way. So, during these workshops, at some point, I met Yvonne, one of my mentors right now at a workshop in Mombasa. She really encouraged me after looking at a small piece that I had written. Also, I got to meet Noviolet Bulawayo who also encouraged me. I also got to interact with all these Kenyan writers from different places and learn from them. I would listen in during some of these workshops, and that’s how I learned most of my craft.

MARVEL

Entrailing! Your journey is amazing. You’ve also named something so valuable, and it is, I mean, many things: it’s learning the craft in unexpected places and unexpected ways, it is the beauty of a writing community, a creative community. I really hear you because I’ve worked on quite a few writing and collaboration teams, and those have been so formative for my journey and my own craft and it sounds like for you too to the point of you desiring to take on the identity of being a creative writer. So that’s really cool.

 So then, what did it look like? How did the inspiration from your community and where you are planted begin to take root? Obviously we have you here today because you are published with us. So tell us a bit about how you were able to gain momentum then, in that newfound love and craft.

MARGARET

So basically, I had to continue pushing myself in. You know, even after getting criticism from other places, I enjoyed being in communities such as Zonka, which is run at the Gothi Institute in Nairobi… I got to attend various workshops and festivals like the Story Moja? Festival, and the Miles Moreland workshop.  In 2017, I attended the small end workshop held in Bulgaria. Island. That’s in Uganda. Also, just building up on community, I mean learning from other writers, listening to them, listening to their critique of my work and not giving up and continuing to put out my work. Making that effort has kept me going.

MARVEL

I love that. Again, you’re naming to me workshops that are new to my ears, but I love that they’ve been accessible to you. And you are bringing such a practical perspective, to grow and challenge ourselves. You’ve also stated something very valuable, which is to seek mentorship. Ask the groups, ask the people who have gone ahead and gone before. So I really appreciate that from you.

Let’s talk about your piece Pain Like Growing Wings. It explores themes of abuse, dignity, and even family dynamics and complexities. I am curious if those are your main themes as a writer or if you write about anything and everything. Tell us a bit about how your passions meet your writing and storytelling.

MARGARET

I have a different theme in mind (right now), though, of course, so I would say I don’t write about one particular thing. In recent times, one thing that I have found very engaging and that has been growing on me is the exploration of loss. Maybe it’s not in this particular story, but currently, that’s what I’m obsessed with.

MARVEL

Hmm, is there a reason?  I’m curious, because I know that writers tend to be observers and tend to be even curious. And we’re human, like, sometimes you just feel something, and you’re in that place. You’re in a pit or mountain top, and you just make it from that place. I’m curious about why you think or why that is the theme you are exploring at this time. 

MARGARET

I actually don’t know. I don’t know whether it’s from experiences, but obviously, as a writer, you draw inspiration from different places. It could be personal experiences. It could be stories in the news. It could be what’s happening around you. The writer draws inspiration from all these places.  For this story in Agbowo, I know some of the inspiration is drawn from personal experience. 

MARVEL

I look forward to what you make. I have found prose and poetry to be a place of solace, and a theme like loss is so hard so you know, when someone writes on it, or tells or talks about it sometimes we are able to find language or things we can’t name. So, Pain like Growing Wings… 

MARGARET

I wrote it quite a while back, and it was drawn from what was happening at the time. It was a time when if you walked around in what would be considered indecent clothing as a woman, you’d find yourself getting stripped. There was a particular incident where a 40-year-old woman was stripped in the city, and this was different because it was actually recorded. And the recording made rounds on the Internet. So, people started advocating against it, and this is where I drew my inspiration.

MARVEL

Yeah. And it’s interesting because I can see pieces of the journalist in you presenting themselves in that piece. You’re reporting a story through a fictional lens in the voice of the story narrator. I love that in that story, you particularly wanted to bring light to or name and address a topic that was big at the time, which I think writers tend to do. I can’t think of the quote right now, but I know someone somewhere said something along the lines of artists being prophets in a time, you know, telling the people what they’re not seeing or telling us society about herself. So I really love that we’re able to do that.

MARGARET

Yeah, so it actually happened. And you know, the worst part is that not many people went out to help out the lady because people are afraid to do something that would trigger more violence. So, by bringing out the character who helps in this story I am trying to show that help can come from the least expected places.

MARVEL

I’m glad you brought up that character, Wacheki, because I wanted to expound on that, particularly because Wacheki being mad is so interesting to me. And I know in quite a lot of African stories the madman is actually a kind of hero. They, in those cases, actually have their head on straight more than the rest of the society. Could you tell us a bit about why you chose a mad woman to be the person who affirmed the stripped one’s dignity?

MARGARET

Yeah, I just wanted to show that sometimes help can come from the least expected. You know, from the person that you least expect can help you. So in this case the society that you expected would help didn’t come through for this lady.  

MARVEL

With that, do you view yourself as someone who uses writing as a means to teach lessons? Do you view it as a space to process? What usually happens to you when you’re writing?

MARGARET

I wouldn’t say that when I’m writing, I think about passing on a particular message. Sometimes, I just want to let it out and get out of what I’m feeling. 

MARVEL

Amen. I’m curious about your goals moving forward. Where are you hoping to go as a creative writer? What is the future looking like for you? 

MARGARET

I want to put out more work and obviously be more confident in my writing. I would love to teach and obviously become a mentor to so many other people. Like I have been mentored by those who’ve gone ahead of me.

MARVEL

Right? Oh, that’s really beautiful and as cheesy as it sounds. I really believe in paying it forward. Clearly, you do, too, like people have poured into you, and you then get to pour into others. 

As we wrap up, I would love to know what you want to tell the people. What is your advice for a young artist that would love to grow in their craft and kind of get themselves out there. 

MARGARET

Just believe in yourself and trust the process. Keep writing, keep writing, keep reading. You have to read to grow and to write better. And, of course, the community is so important. Even when I spend time away from the community, I always find that I want to go back and be with other people who are doing the same. It sort of inspires you to keep at it and to grow.

MARVEL

That’s a word. Well, thank you so much for your time. Thank you for being here and answering and letting us in on your journey of writing, how pieces come to you and where you hope to go. I really appreciate it.

MARGARET

Thank you, too, for the opportunity to share.

THE END