Writers Space Africa · Rwanda Chapter

A home for
Rwandan writers.


We are a community of writers, storytellers, and artists building a literary culture in Rwanda and amplifying it to the world.

Our journey

6 years of building

20

2020 · Founded

A WhatsApp group of 3 writers during the Covid-19 lockdown.

21

2021 · Community grows

Grew to over 60 writers across different genres.

22

2022 · First public moment

Anthology Voices of Space and first Arty Night event.

23

2023 · Umukarago is born

Issues 1 & 2 launched. ArtfulHer event hosted, celebrating women.

24

2024 · Continental stage

Hosted the 7th African Writers Conference in Kigali.

25

2025 · Depth & reach

Love’s Eternal Tale anthology launched. Umukarago Issues 5 & 6 released.

26

2026 · New chapter

Now

Issue 7. New website. 100+ writers and growing.

Our Vision

“A Rwanda where every writer has a community, every voice has a platform, and every story finds its reader.”

Our Mission

“To build a home for Rwandan writers where they sharpen their craft, share their work, and grow together.”

We believe that every Rwandan story matters. Through Umukarago magazine, our writing services, coaching programme, and events, we are working to build the infrastructure that helps Rwandan literature thrive and reach wider audiences.

What drives us

Our Values

01

Craft

We take writing seriously. Our workshops, coaching, editing, and publications are all oriented toward one goal: helping Rwandan writers become the best writers they can be.

02

Community

Writing is solitary. Community doesn't have to be. We bring writers together to share work, give feedback, collaborate, and support one another through the long process of putting words on a page.

03

Amplification

Rwandan voices deserve a global stage. Through Umukarago and our anthologies, we make sure that stories written here in Rwanda reach readers far beyond our borders.

Founded
2020

Some of our young writers at a community celebration in 2023

Our Story

From a small circle
to a movement.


Writers Space Africa — Rwanda Chapter began in April 2020 with a simple conviction: that Rwandan writers, scattered across Kigali and beyond, needed a home. A community. A place where a poet could share a draft, where a story writer could find a reader, where writing in Rwanda felt less solitary.

Since our founding, we have grown from a small circle sharing work to a community of over 100 writers, a published literary magazine, two collective anthologies, and a full suite of services that support writers at every stage of their craft.

Today, our writers are refining their craft, receiving recognition in Rwanda and beyond, publishing their work, and finding the confidence to bring long-awaited manuscripts to life.

The people behind it

Meet the leadership team
behind WSA-Rwanda.

The people behind WSA-Rwanda’s stories, growth, and impact. Writers themselves, they volunteer their time and energy to help other writers thrive.

9
Team members
0
Salaries paid
6+
Years running
Patrick Nzabonimpa (Tom)

“You don’t need all the answers to enjoy the journey.”

tap

Patrick Nzabonimpa (Tom)

PN
Founder & Country Coordinator

Writer, editor, and communications professional. Author of A Thread of Silent Echoes and Mutoni: The Innovator of Kiruku. His work has been published in Brittle Paper, Africa in Dialogue, and several anthologies. Judge for the African Writers Awards and recipient of multiple honours including the Rwanda NCST’s Best Science Communicator award.

Lise Nova Berwadushime

“I live to write and I write to live. In God, pen, and pennies, I trust.”

tap

Lise Nova Berwadushime

LN
Deputy Country Coordinator

Poet, writer, and copywriter. Author of the poetry collections East of Faith West of Fear and The Answer to a Requiem, as well as the storybook Adventures of Detective Donkey. She finds her inspiration in music, nature, and the quiet wonders of everyday life. She was honoured with Emerging Talent Award at Women Book Award 2026.

Olga Colombe Nyampinga

“Writing is where the soul finds its voice.”

tap

Olga Colombe Nyampinga

OC
Poetry Team Coordinator

Author and poet whose writing explores love, faith, healing, identity, and the quiet beauty of the human experience. As the author of Beneath the Ink, she uses poetry to give voice to emotions often left unspoken, inviting readers to find hope, reflection, and meaning in every page.

Sandra Nadege

“Every writer has a light inside them. My work is to help them find it and put it on the page.”

tap

Sandra Nadege

SN
Events Coordinator

Writer, editor, and poet with a BA in Communications. She works professionally as a health equity communicator. She is the author of Light in the Dark, a memoir. She is also an avid reader with a particular love for mystery novels. Her other interests include listening to ikinamico, traveling, exploring new cuisines, and dancing to Afro-house and techno.

Gisele Ingabire

“Where there is so much pride, love runs for its life.”

tap

Gisele Ingabire

GI
Review & Interview Team Coordinator

An advocate and writer based in Kigali. She explores themes of identity and the raw, universal emotions of the human experience through her poetry and fiction. To her, reading and writing are acts of healing—for the writer and reader alike.

Parfait Nzeyimana

“Good writing, like good research, starts with curiosity and ends with clarity.”

tap

Parfait Nzeyimana

PN
Training & Skills Development Coordinator

Economist, researcher, macroeconomic modelling specialist, and Assistant Lecturer. He is the Founder and Managing Director of Nkiza Ltd, an academic publishing and research organisation. A published author of literary and academic works, his interests span economics, public policy, development, and creative literature.

Marie Solange Nishimwe

“Life is for living, and living is for loving. One thing is certain: to live is a blessing.”

tap

Marie Solange Nishimwe

MS
Finance Officer

A public health professional with a nursing background, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health. She is also a creative storyteller who uses storytelling to highlight places, inspire, inform, and connect people. She is passionate about arts, culture, and exploring connections between people and communities through travel.

William Niyonzima

“Living to bless others is the best blessing in life.”

tap

William Niyonzima

WN
Mental Health Team Coordinator

Poet and writer who sees writing as a means of inspiring, educating, motivating, and sharing messages of hope and faith. Professionally, he is a laboratory analyst at a university, where he trains students in the processes of cancer diagnosis.

Jean De La Croix Dusenge

“Be available for life to happen.”

tap

Jean De La Croix Dusenge

JD
Communications Team Coordinator

A poet who writes with curiosity, doubt, and quiet fire. His poetry is introspective, where faith wrestles with reason and emotion meets raw truth. He turns inner conflict into art through verses that are both personal and philosophical. Beyond poetry, he is pursuing data analysis, drawn to patterns and clarity.

Who we work with

Partners & Affiliations

Join us

Be part of the story.

Whether you are a writer, a reader, or an organisation that shares our values, there is a place for you here.

Join WSA-Rwanda Read Umukarago
?>