Mozambique

The First Wife: a tale of polygamy

BY PAULINA CHIZIANE

I first read a short story by Paulina Chiziane called “Who’s In Charge Here,” and her easy, accessible writing so much, that I decided to make her novel THE FIRST WIFE: A TALE OF POLYGAMY my Mozambique pick. Paulina Chiziane is one of Mozambique’s most celebrated authors. She considers herself a storyteller, who bases her work on the rich heritage of the oral tradition. In her own words: “When working with the Red Cross I finally understood that pen and paper are my arms for fighting.”