Meeting Hilda Twongyeirwe again after many years felt a little like fangirling. Her stature and easy smile belie her larger than life reputation in the literary and development circles. Her name for many years now has been associated with FEMRITE and it is easy to forget how phenomenal she is even without the FEMRITE headdress. She speaks with a soft warmth that masks a steel determination and focus. An editor and writer, mother, national medallist, mentor, and current executive director of FEMRITE, she manages to exude both power and gentility in interacting with others.
In this focus on Hilda Twongyeirwe we hope to show how the intricate connection between our personal and professional lives works to create a full and productive life, especially for creatives.
Could you tell us a little about yourself?
I am a Mukiga from the Lake Bunyonyi region. I used to say I am from Kabale District but I was stripped of that identity in the multiplication of Uganda’s districts. Now I say Lake Bunyonyi region because I am hoping that is a birth-right and I decide where Lake Bunyonyi region begins and ends depending on my agenda. I am a bit of a jack of all trade. I studied literature, social administration, and public administration. I guess that is how I came to be where I am in terms of work; Executive Director of FEMRITE – Uganda Women Writers Association.
I am a human rights enthusiast and this interview coming in the wake of the revolution happening in the United States gives me the opportunity to say that all human beings are equal and deserve equal dignity. Those who feel aggrieved might probably need to find an alternative planet. I have just written a short poem titled; We shall remember you George Floyd.
I am a firm believer in women’s emancipation and women empowerment for the betterment of the universe. I am a family woman too – mother and wife. I am an editor but have also written and published some short stories, some poetry, essays, and true-life stories.
My guiding philosophy in life is that he who never has anything waiting for him will have nothing to wait for. I draw a few other principles from some great minds. For instance, while growing up, our mother (RIP), used to tell us that the concept of lack of enough space is not physical but psychological. I believe her. Especially now
What are you most proud of? What personal accomplishment gives you the greatest joy?
Small things like having time with my children and doing things together give me joy. At a professional level, there are lots of accomplishments big and small that I am proud of such as being a recipient of a National Medal awarded by the President of Uganda in March 2018 in recognition of my contribution to Uganda’s literary heritage and Women emancipation. In addition, I am very pleased that I and my colleagues at FEMRITE have managed to keep the organisation up and running in the face of dwindling resources for the creative sector. This is always a struggling sector. I serve on Uganda’s National Culture Forum and we have petitioned the government of Uganda to establish a Creative Industries Fund in the wake of COVID-19, to support the sector in the recovery process. The creative sector has always been relegated to the periphery which has negatively impacted its growth and development. I am proud of contributing to the opening up of FEMRITE to regional programmes which have contributed a lot in making the organisation a household name in Africa and beyond.
What fills your happiness cup? How do you re-energise?
I speak with my children. I read a nice book. I take a long walk in nature or climb a mountain. I love being in the wild of mountains although I have climbed only a few; Tororo Rock which I climbed with my daughter Stella, Mt. Muhabura, Mt Elgon, and Mt Kilimanjaro all of which I climbed with friends who I believe will be friends forever.
Which literary work was the first to capture your imagination? How did it make you feel?
I may not be so sure but Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens is among the first books I read which fascinated me. I could see Oliver Twist, listen to his mischievous plans, and follow his movements. But I think it was the humanistic element of the novel which was so strong that I became part of Oliver’s story and even begun to fight his wars.
What are you reading currently/What was the last book you read and really enjoyed?
This half of the year I am reading a lot of non-Ugandan books. I am reading an old book which I should have read years ago read; The Bluest Eyes by Toni Morrison. It is more than a novel. It is history. It is psychology. And reading it today in the wake of the USA Revolution is interesting because it is a deep reflection that answers a lot of the whys that people are asking about the USA conflict; the deeply entangled history. My last read was Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadadwi. Previously I read Confessions of a Slot Queen Machine by Sandra Adel. After The Bluest Eye, I will swing to new Ugandan Writer – Rachael Mutabingwa. I bought it from the Uganda Book Market a few months back. And a big Thank you to Lantern meet for being part of the Book Market from its initial stages when we started it in May 2018. Talking about the Book Market, I really miss it. We can’t wait to re-open. I am sure more Ugandans are writing and there will probably be a lot to publish after the lockdown.
What is your creative process like? Do you come to it easily?
I do not have a single process I follow. Maybe that is because I am not a fulltime writer. I write when I have what to write about and when I have the medium of delivery and when I have time. And no, it never comes easily. But I have also discovered that editing takes a lot of creative energy but it is also a joy to work with others as they birth their stories.
How did you arrive at your current profession? How did you choose your craft?
When I was at school, I read a lot of books and I ended up in love with literature that I chose to study and which I taught for almost ten years. While still at University I joined other women who wanted to write when Mary Karooro Okurut was in the process of founding FEMRITE – Uganda Women Writers Association. So I became one of the Founding members of the organization. But I did not join the staff of the organization until several years later.
What challenges have you experienced building a career in the literary world?
One of the major challenges is the lack of structures to support writers. So writers have to do other jobs and writing becomes secondary. In some other countries, governments avail artists funds to enable them to take time off other activities to create. Other countries offer courses either free or at subsidized rates to enable creatives to develop their craft. In Uganda, there are no such structures. One has to travel for instance to another country to study editing, creative writing, and even publishing. In addition, there is a critical lack of literary critics to critique work genuinely and professionally to enable writers to grow. The other major challenge has been the attitude with which the public views literary arts. When you choose to do literature people ask you; what can you do other than teach? How come people do not ask Lawyers what can you do other than be a lawyer? What can you do other than be a Doctor? Of course, you can do anything with literature. Literature is communication and the universe revolves around communication.
How do you navigate the multiple facets of your life? How does this affect your ability to develop your craft?
This is not just special to the creative sector. We all have to manoeuvre around the facets of life. But I should say that I have learned to take one step at a time. Things always work out if we let them. But also I depend a lot on seeking help as much as I can. There are always people who can help us if we can trust them. On the other hand, however, I would love to create as much as possible, get time to just think about my writing, and write without thinking about the burdens of strained livelihood. But I do not have that luxury because of the hassles. But I take the satisfaction from the fact that I am engaged a lot in writing-related development activities.
How do/did you envision your contribution to Uganda’s literary heritage?
I have almost all my working life committed to contributing to the development of Uganda’s literary heritage through teaching literature, supporting other writers, participating in developing programmes to support writers, running writing and reading programmes in communities and schools, editing of literary works, establishing writing clubs in schools, making sector presentations, lobbying for favourable environment for literary growth and development. I have written and published, edited several works, and participated in training upcoming writers.
Do you have any project you would like to/hope to work on?
Yes, I have several writing and editing projects I will work on. Some personal others with FEMRITE and other initiatives.
How would you like to be remembered?
People remember you the way they want, the way they choose – depending on the way they related or did not relate with you.
What changes would you like to see in the industry especially in Uganda?
Better attitude towards the arts. A better reading culture. Better infrastructure and resources to support writers and other creatives.
What advice would you give creatives? How can they succeed where they are situated?
Writers need to support one another. No one can make it alone in this sector. We all need each other; read each other, critique each other, promote each other, work on projects together.
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