The Making of a Literary Model & Advocate
Natasha Omokhodion is a distinguished writer whose work explores themes of heritage, diaspora, family, and womanhood. Her literary creations blend contemporary and historical narratives, meticulously researched to contribute significantly to the broader literary and academic canon of Zambia and Africa.
Born on September 22, 1983, in London, England, Natasha boasts a rich cultural heritage, encompassing Zambian, Nigerian, and Jamaican roots. Her educational journey, spanning Zambia, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, has endowed her with a diverse perspective that fuels her multifaceted career in management, marketing, brand consulting, and writing. Her early years were marked by schooling in England, followed by a move to Zambia, where she continued her education in Lusaka, surrounded by loved ones and warm memories.
Growing up in a family that encouraged curiosity and individuality, Natasha was particularly influenced by her grandmother, who meticulously archived family records. This environment fostered her penchant for nostalgia and tied her thoughts and emotions to physical objects. Surrounded by bookshelves and a home library in her grandfather’s office, Natasha developed an enduring interest in writing.
Natasha’s professional writing career commenced in 2016, driven by her desire to cultivate a supportive ecosystem for literary arts in Zambia. Her breakthrough came when she responded to an open call for stories by the Zambian Women Writers Association, funded by the Chinese Government. This pivotal experience ignited her passion for the literary world, set her on a path to connect with writing communities, and enhanced her skills and knowledge. This journey culminated in the 2019 release of her debut novel, No Be From Hia, deeply influenced by her background and a need to mourn and celebrate her grandparents.
Over the years, Natasha has engaged with numerous Zambian writers, conducting creative writing workshops supported by institutions such as NIPA College Library through the American Corner project, Alliance Française, and Myaambo Co-operative authors in 2023. Her commitment to nurturing diverse voices led her to establish Copper Monstera, her publishing company. One of its flagship projects is an anthology centred around the theme of women and their money, featuring stories about women’s financial experiences from Zambian writers. Set for publication in 2025, this initiative aims to bring hidden talents to the forefront.
She has, in conjunction with the European Union-funded Art Transparent Deconfining Project done a call for writers in East and Southern Africa, and has edited and shaped the writerly work of contributors from Zambia and Europe. She has represented Zambia and its literary industry on various panels such as the Africa Music Art & Cultural Exhibition (AMACE 2023), emphasizing the need for more robust structures for literary and creative arts in Zambia.
As a volunteer, Natasha has served the Board of Directors for Alliance Française of Lusaka since 2022. In this time she has advocated for creative writing classes, subsidized book launches for Zambian authors, and literary events. As an individual, she has made various book donations to libraries, schools and universities, and assisted monetarily with key writing festivals and social activities in Zambia.
In 2020, Natasha participated in the inaugural Afro Lit Sans Frontieres online festival, where she interviewed esteemed authors like Tsitsi Dangarembga, Ayobami Adebayo, and Leila Aboulela. She is an alumna of Curtis Brown Creative’s inaugural Breakthrough Course for Black Writers and has served on the Afritondo Prize judging panel in 2022, while also chairing the Kendeka Prize for African Literature in 2023.
Natasha holds an MA (distinction) in Creative Writing from Kingston University London. Her short stories have been featured in publications such as Hotel Africa by Short Story Day Africa and Relations by Harper Via. Her first book, No Be From Hia, was selected as a Graywolf Africa Press finalist in 2019. Published in Zambia, the book made its way to markets in South Africa, Canada and UK, and is set for distribution by Simon & Schuster in the United States July 2025.
Currently residing in Lusaka with her family, Natasha is continually committed to keeping the literary passion ignited by her grandparents alive, striving endlessly towards elevating the literary community in Zambia in particular, and Africa in general.
Onyeche Ada Onobu
Onyeche Ada Onobu is a fiction writer from Benue, Nigeria. Her writings have appeared or are forthcoming in Isele Magazine, Paragraph Planet, and Pencilmarks Scribbles. Alongside her somewhat dreary job as a production assistant, Ada passionately explores her interests on social media. You can find her as @lafemmeidoma on Twitter and Instagram.
