Nick Mwaluko was born in Tanzania and raised mostly in neighboring Kenya, east Africa plus central African regions and the Indian Ocean islands of Comoros, Seychelles, Reunion. Nick worked for Reuters News Agency’s east African headquarters in Nairobi initially as a filer of standard copy then quickly rose to write feature stories. Two stories—one about street children and another on prominent female African politicians—were featured in the Washington Times. Nick worked for Reuters New York’s equity desk for a year before receiving a scholarship to Columbia University where Nick also completed an MFA in writing as a Point Scholar. While at Columbia, Nick contributed to Columbia University’s “Spectator”. Since then, stories have been featured in the Huffington Post, Pambazuka News, All Africa News, the Goodis Foundation, and other (online) publications.
Nick transitioned from female-to-male (FtM) while in college. Recent stories center on this seminal experience. “NotEnoughGood” remains a valuable resource and outlet for written copy focusing on the struggle for social justice, equality, voice, expression. In addition, Nick writes plays and was a member of the inaugural EWG (Emerging Writers’ Group) at the Public Theater, America’s largest non-profit theater based in New York City. Nick’s plays include Waafrika, S/He, Trailer Park Tundra, Asymmetrical We. Thinking Cap Theater in Florida has commissioned a production of Waafrika for 2013.
Nick hates body fascism, labels and the tyranny of pronouns.
See all posts written by Nick.
2 comments
Jamie Sage
17 March, 2012 at 6:46 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Dear Nick,
I just want to tell you how impressed I am with your activism and accomplishments! As our popular American culture glorifies the pedestrian and the mundane you’ve carved out a celestial path for us and our humanity loving and supporting us who are marginalized, alienated, and subjugated. You give me fuel to take a risk. For it is only in risk taking that we can move our humanity forward.
Peace,
Jamie Sage
Nick
7 June, 2012 at 3:39 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Dear Jamie,
First and foremost: please forgive me for not responding sooner but my Internet access is sketchy of late so I hadn’t checked this specific site until now. So I sincerely apologize for my delayed response: I am truly sorry, Jamie.
As for risks taken by marginalized, alienated, subjugated individuals, I don’t know of any other way to appreciate another person’s humanity. The most interesting people shy away from the spotlight; the most interesting things about those under the glare of the spotlight, are the areas they won’t let into the light. All in all, marginalized, subjugated, alienated people are the flowers of this earth, all the more beautiful because their damaged surface (superficiality) conceals an inner radiance, undeniable once received. So how do you look (at them)? It depends how you look: we teach each other what to look for; we teach each other how to see; how to listen to the silences so we hear what’s said–really. If we hold tight to the pain, struggle, damage, ugliness that comes with truth-telling, healing begins thanks to the telling. Then we tell it differently so our audience actually hears and sees who our damaged, broken, pained Self is: a glorious work of complex humanity. If the work, my work can communicate this about (queer) African people, who have been over-stereotyped and currently exist as caricature of humanity, maybe a life, just one, will change for the better. Who knows?
Thanks for reaching out, Jamie. Promise me this: no lies no matter the cost. If we fall, we will not die; if we die, we will rise.
warmly,
nick