We had an engaging conversation with the talented Priscille, an emerging writer from the Democratic Republic of Congo. We discussed about the literary scene in her country and the challenges writers encounter. We also had the pleasure of exploring her exciting podcast, "The PPS Club," and delving into her ambitious goals for this initiative.

Have a good read!

Hey there Priscille, thanks for joining us today! Let's start by getting to know you a little better. Could you start by telling us a little bit about yourself and your background?

P: Hi, it's nice to be here! I'm Priscille B. Fatuma, a writer, digital marketer, and freelancer born, raised, and currently based in Kinshasa, DRC.

Awesome. So, What inspired you to become a writer, and how did you get started?

P: That's a good question, and thank you for asking. So, I've dreamed of becoming an author since I was 16 years old and in my final year of high-school. But I didn't start writing immediately because it was something I saw myself do later in life. Then in 2019, I dropped out of uni and immediately started learning how to write essays and fiction through online courses as my long-held dream slowly became an obsession. After that, during the 2020 pandemic, I finally started writing fiction to publish, and the rest, as they say, is history.

That’s really interesting to know. Can you give us an idea of what the writing scene is like in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and how has it evolved over the years?

P: The writing scene in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is more liberated as of now than before. We've gone from only discussing writing in school to celebrating works of fiction in festivals and art fairs in the capital each year, as well as having writing contests that garner both national and international attention. I've also seen the rise of a reading app, independent bloggers, comic book artists, and filmmakers in the past couple of years. In a nutshell, I'd say the horizon of the Congolese writing scene is broader and increasingly creative.

Interesting and What would you say is the biggest challenge for writers for the DRC?

P: Although some might disagree, I think the biggest challenge for DR Congo writers is getting our written word in front of multicultural and non-French-speaking audiences. We have writers who write on topics that are political and anthropological, such as the war in the Eastern part of the country and its consequences, but none of these works are near-ubiquitous because it's regarded as 'our' struggle. We have other kinds of works too, but not enough to attract people worldwide, which can also be due to translation for our local writers being deficient compared to other African countries. This is a problem that our local translators (if they exist), publishers, and authorities could invest time and resources solving, if we want to bridge the gap that currently exists between the Congolese writing scene and the rest of the world.

The PPS Club Podcast, a brilliant initiative of yours is on the rise, could you tell us more about it and what inspired you to make the bold move to start?

P: Thank you for asking this question. My podcast started as an experiment, because I was curious to see if I could do this. Back in 2021, I was already a podcast junkie, so when I started The PPS Club (my newsletter) on Substack, it felt like combining it with a podcast would help me reach more people who wouldn't know about my newsletter otherwise. Hence, the first three episodes are the audio version of the newsletter, targeting 'those who are better listeners than readers," as I once put it. But today, the newsletter and the podcast serve each its own purpose. The podcast is a point of contact between me and like-minded people, who are looking to grow and gain support as writerpreneurs.

Who are some of the writers you've featured and what can people expect when they tune in?

P: Over the last two years, I have featured people doing amazing things who are willing to share with those who are still trying to break into the market. When you tune in, you'll hear me interviewing some writer friends that I met in the Twitter writing community and published poets and authors from Africa and the UK. As I expand my reach, I'll be hosting publishing experts and professionals who have made it their business to help writers become successful in their careers. If you know someone who fits this description, all you have to do is send them my way.

If you could have any African author on your podcast, who would it be and why?

P: Chimamanda Adichie! I mean, it's a no brainer. Chimamanda is an icon, and I admire her for all she's done for African literature and what she represents for young female African writers.

Thanks so much for chatting with us today! Before we go, do you have any upcoming writing or podcasting projects that you're excited about and want to share with our audience?

I have something in the works that I'll share in due time, but in the meantime, anyone interested in getting exclusive news, ideas, and resources from me on the regular can subscribe to my newsletter, The PPS Club at theppsclub.co

Thank you to Emmanuel and the team at Iko Africa for having me in this lovely interview. We should do this again sometime!

Definitely!

Check out the PPS Club Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theppsclubpod