How WhatsApp is transforming writing industry in Zimbabwe

In today’s digital age, technology has revolutionized the way people communicate, work, and even write novels.

In Zimbabwe, a new wave of authors is using the ubiquitous messaging app, WhatsApp, to transform the writing industry and reach readers in innovative ways.

One such author is Kingston Dhewa, who juggles his passion for writing with running a fruit and vegetable stall in Budiriro 5, a bustling suburb in Harare. With a smartphone in hand, Dhewa taps away furiously on his screen, crafting chapters of his latest novel on a Google Doc.

Despite the interruptions from customers and the blaring gospel music in the background, Dhewa remains focused on his writing, eager to share his stories with his audience.

The unique aspect of Dhewa’s writing process lies in how he delivers his content to his readers – through the WhatsApp messaging app. With a dedicated following of over 1,000 subscribers, Dhewa sends out chapters of his novel directly to his readers’ phones, allowing them to engage with his work in real-time.

This direct and personal approach not only creates a sense of intimacy between the author and the reader but also eliminates the barriers to traditional publishing, making literature more accessible to a wider audience.

The rise of WhatsApp novelists in Zimbabwe is not just a novel concept but a reflection of the changing landscape of the writing industry. Aspiring authors who may have struggled to break into the traditional publishing world now have a platform to showcase their talent and connect with readers without the need for expensive publishing deals or distribution channels.

Moreover, the affordability and convenience of WhatsApp make it an ideal tool for writers to disseminate their work quickly and efficiently. By leveraging the reach of the messaging app, authors like Dhewa can bypass traditional publishing constraints and directly monetize their writing by selling novels to interested readers.

Kingston Dhewa, a 52-year-old writer from Southern Africa, decided to write in the local Shona language inspired by other Shona authors. His books have a traditional, pre-colonial setting that explores themes related to African rural life.

Despite trying his hand at writing in high school and nearly getting published in 1992, he couldn’t afford the fees required for traditional publishing. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and he was stuck at home due to a national lockdown, Dhewa found solace in reading stories shared on WhatsApp.

Joining a group called Read and Write, he began sharing his own work and found encouragement to continue writing. His first novel was well-received, allowing him to earn money to support his family by charging readers $2 for the book.

With a newfound confidence in his writing abilities, Dhewa realized that he could be writing more and making a living from his passion.

Since discovering the power of WhatsApp as a platform for sharing his stories, Dhewa has found a way to pursue his passion for writing despite not having access to a computer.

Spending hours crafting each chapter of his novels, he has managed to publish an impressive 43 books on the app. Through serialising his work, he has been able to attract a growing number of readers who eagerly await each new chapter.

Dhewa’s dedication to his craft is evident in his approach to building a following, creating multiple groups to accommodate the increasing demand for his stories. By sharing the initial chapters for free and leveraging social media to promote his work, he has successfully cultivated a loyal audience that continues to support and engage with his writing.

Despite the challenges he faces in terms of resources, Dhewa’s talent and determination have allowed him to thrive in the digital age of storytelling.

In the bustling Budiriro 5 suburb of Harare, Clever Pada, a dedicated fan of popular WhatsApp author Pamela Ngirazi, can often be found at his small tuckshop engrossed in reading a chapter from her latest book.

Ngirazi, with a massive following of over 21,000 on the messaging platform, is a renowned full-time writer known for her captivating storytelling. Pada, who runs his shop where locals often gather, is currently immersed in Ngirazi’s new novel, Prior Replica, written in English.

While some authors like Dhewa prefer using WhatsApp Groups for interactive storytelling, Ngirazi utilizes a WhatsApp Channel to reach her vast audience. These Channels serve as broadcast tools, enabling businesses and individuals to communicate with large groups without direct responses from recipients.

Ngirazi generously shared the first 20 chapters of Prior Replica on her channel for free, but now offers the remainder for purchase through the Boom Application.

Fascinated by the romance and intrigue found in Prior Replica, Pada is considering paying to read the rest of the novel. Thanks to platforms like the Boom Story app, authors like Ngirazi can streamline the e-publishing process and connect with readers in a more accessible and engaging way.

With Ngirazi’s storytelling prowess and dedicated following, it’s no wonder Pada and thousands of readers are eagerly awaiting each chapter of her latest work.

The reader sighs as they contemplate their options. In today’s digital age, access to books is no longer as simple as walking into a bookstore and purchasing a physical copy.

Instead, readers have to make a payment to the author through mobile money transfer services or by using their mobile phone airtime.

It seems like there is no escaping this new method of buying and accessing books. After making the payment, the reader eagerly awaits the delivery of the full book, which typically comes in the form of a PDF sent via WhatsApp.

This mode of delivery ensures that the reader receives the content quickly and directly from the author. While the traditional way of buying books may be fading, this new method offers convenience and efficiency in the digital age. Despite feeling like they have limited choices, the reader embraces this new way of accessing literature.

For readers, the allure of WhatsApp novels lies in the immediacy of receiving new chapters directly to their phones, creating a sense of anticipation and engagement with the story.

The interactive nature of WhatsApp also allows readers to provide feedback, ask questions, and connect with the author on a more personal level, fostering a community around the shared love of literature.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, WhatsApp novelists in Zimbabwe are at the forefront of this literary revolution, paving the way for a new era of storytelling and publishing.

Through innovative use of technology and a passion for storytelling, authors like Kingston Dhewa are not just redefining how novels are written and consumed but also inspiring a new generation of writers to embrace the power of digital platforms in the age-old craft of storytelling.

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