Tention Free: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Your background, education, writing passion etc?
Tando Keke, I am a British-born South African author, writer, teacher, social justice activist and I live in South East Asia. I hold a Bachelor of Social Science honor’s degree with a specialization in Gender and Transformation from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
I am a creative visionary and a scribe at heart. I am a certified professional coach through International Coach Centre ISTOK. My coaching niche is Cultural Diversity and Inclusion coaching. I am a founding executive board member of Fofana Consulting. I am experienced in using creative techniques to help people to lead a successful life as an armchair philosopher, a good listener and a well beloved friend.
Tention Free: Can you please tell our readers more about your book “The Strength of the Real Women” ?
I wrote this book, “The Strength of a Real Woman” to tell my story, but also to tell our stories as women, for far too long our stories have been told through other people’s lenses, and I really want to stay curious and continue to explore what it sounds like when we tell our own stories.
Tention Free: What’s the reason behind choose this name for your book?
As a black African woman who grew up in Africa, through my book I am re-writing the narrative of the silenced, traumatized, barely surviving, always suffering and struggling impoverished black African woman in the media and in literature.
Tention Free: Any upcoming book?
From March I will continue working on a gratitude journal that will be released later this year, and this is a global collaborative project with some exciting new innovators in the field of graphic design, art and illustration.
Tention Free: What has been one of the most exciting achievements of your career so far ?
It has definitely been, self-publishing my first book on my birthday in 2020.
Tention Free: What’s your goal in life you want to achieve next?
I want to narrate and record my own audio book.
Tention Free: What motivates you to do your best work as an Author?
I am motivated by the creative recovery process. I like to start the morning by writing my morning pages, this is a technique, I learned while being part of a creative cluster working through “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. When I wake up in the morning, I set aside an amount of time, to write my first thoughts, I write anything and everything that comes to mind, even if it sounds like gibberish, this is such a good way to start writing, it’s unfiltered, uncensored and it allows me to go process through whatever is on my mind, first thing in the morning, before I get out of bed, check my emails or drink a cup of coffee.
Tention Free: Did you choose this field, as a career, or as a hobby?
I’ve always been a writer, the only difference now is that I have finally published my debut publication. Writing is my passion, I hope one day to make it my career, but for now I am building my life coaching business and working as an adjunct professor at the university where I work.
Tention Free: Your favourite Writer?
My favorite writer is Gina B. Nahai
Tention Free: Everybody needs time out. What do you do in your free time?
In my free time, I like to paint and work on other creative projects.
Tention Free: How can people find you and follow you online?
