An Interview with Cynthia Mwakio

NOVELTY FICTION – The young people in your novella “Second Heart” all lead fairly independent lives. One could say that they are young professionals who prioritize work and personal goals over family to some extent. Was it a deliberate choice for you to focus on this segment of the population, as opposed to conventional families?

CYNTHIA MWAKIO – Since the book revolves around individuals who are emotionally driven, young and vibrant – with an invigorating vibe – I imagined incorporating the conventional family setup would dissolve or break the continuity of the storyline, hence interrupting the flow. The chosen approach is aimed at making the reader hyped up and fully captivated.

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NOVELTY FICTION – Amanda, your main character, seems to take the middle ground. She is hardworking and fairly ambitious on one side, friendly and romantic on the other. Also, we are under the impression that she enjoys being feminine, wanting to look her best with fancy clothes etc. Do you consider her a role model, as opposed to – say – a housewife or a completely career-oriented woman?

CYNTHIA MWAKIO – I would definitely consider her a role model. Amanda is a young woman with ambitions, someone with the aim of attaining the goals she has set. Fortunately or unfortunately, during her career journey, she comes across Mwashighadi – someone who seems to shift her focus, where we get to see her loving, caring, and compassionate side. Nonetheless, she also exudes the character of a housewife, where we get to see her dreaming of starting a family with him; and that to the extent where she pictures them having a child together. Her caring character is so motherly. On the other hand, she is also a career-oriented woman who has goals set by herself and determination to achieve them.

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NOVELTY FICTION – Your novella seems to place emphasis on the friendship that develops between Amanda and her boyfriend Mwashi, as opposed to a physical relationship between them. Do you feel that their relationship is something very beautiful that reflects your own values?

CYNTHIA MWAKIO – Yes, I believe any relationship is essential and workable, and can be maintained even without much physical interaction. Their minimal physical interaction puts them in a place where they both crave, having a deeper desire for each other. I personally would say that a relationship that is truly genuine and has minimal or limited physical interaction puts couples into a state where they develop an insatiable desire for each other. This explains why, whenever Mwashighadi and Amanda meet, they don’t want to let go of each other: Time apart creates a stronger mutual desire. As the saying goes: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

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NOVELTY FICTION – Please broadly describe the gender roles in contemporary Kenya. For example, are more women pursuing higher education and careers than before, and are they treated equally in various contexts?

CYNTHIA MWAKIO – Kenya is among the fastest-growing countries in Africa. Its rapid growth has influenced women to become participants. In ancient times, women were not exposed to education. Their key roles revolved around household activities, childbearing and looking after the young ones, as well as ensuring a relatable social environment. In recent times, women have been influenced and empowered through acquiring educational skills, and are now exposed farther away from their native roles of being housewives and managing households, namely to excelling in education, politics and business. Women are today occupying positions mostly dominated by men, something that was rare and almost impossible to acquire or imagine in past decades.

Fortunately, in recent times, rapid growth in Kenya and Africa at large has positively impacted women by enabling them to contribute and actively participate in shaping their countries’ social, economical and political growth. Even though women are excelling in different fields, they still face challenges in navigating and facing persistent inequalities. Especially when it comes to leadership, women are still being undermined and deprived of attaining such roles. A good example was when one of our own, well-known female political leaders aspired to become the next president of Kenya. She had the leadership potential, but things didn’t work well for her. Africa, and I believe the world at large, has placed women on a certain level where they can take a dominant position; and yet, leadership roles remain elusive for them. This is sad but very true and evident to all.

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NOVELTY FICTION – Your novella has a spontaneous energy, like seeing goodness in people and in life. Does this writing style reflect your own outlook?

CYNTHIA MWAKIO – Yes definitely, I am an individual who not only sees good in people but notices people ‘s potential and capabilities in different respects.

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NOVELTY FICTION – What are your hopes and expectations as far as being read in Kenya, in other African countries, and elsewhere around the world?

CYNTHIA MWAKIO – Well, I have been having mixed feelings about it. Everybody has a different view, outlook and perception of every written article or other content one creates, and definitely no one delivers something that will be positively embraced or negatively taken by everybody. Some will have a positive view upon it, and vice versa. I am confident that some people, possibly even most people, will be positively encouraged or inspired. Either way, I am open to any feedback, which will become a point of reference for my future work, if any.

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NOVELTY FICTION – Anything else you would like to share with our readers?

CYNTHIA MWAKIO – I would like to encourage people to learn to embrace seeing the good in people, pointing out their areas of potential, as opposed to bringing people down. If something is not right, let it be pointed out straightforwardly without sugarcoating. I know that mankind doesn’t love to be corrected, but corrections are good to the wise because they help you navigate better in your future endeavors. If something is good, let it be encouraged; if something is negative, let it be pointed out. Let’s call a spade a spade, not a big spoon.

The other thing is: I personally believe that everything we learn, hear, experience and perceive has some positive and negative ramifications, and there are pros and cons to every decision and every choice we make. Wisdom is a virtue every individual should desire to attain, as it can help you understand and decipher hidden meanings. That is very vital indeed.

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