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About

Full Name: Sussie Mjwara
Country Represented: South Africa

Why did you enter this storytelling contest?

I was inspired by a friend of mine who has been encouraging me to tell my stories for a very long time.

She invited me to enter the contest last year and I turned it down. Again this year when the competition opened she sent the link and encouraged me to enter but still, I was skeptical.

As a Toastmasters member, I attended a Toastmasters meeting and told a story of my childhood. After I told the story there was utter silence. Up until one member said, “you should be a storyteller”. My answer was “I am a storyteller indeed. Thank you, mam.” That’s where my inspiration was sealed.

What does storytelling mean to you?

Storytelling for me is a precious treasure that makes words and emotions come alive. It opens up a world that intertwines the past, the present the future, and the mystical realm. Through stories, we learn the values of life. Stories are good sculptures of who we are as people. They have the power to motivate, to comfort, to bring joy and laughter, they inspire us to question beyond our own realities. Storytelling is the strong thread that keeps us connected as humanity.

Why did you tell this story?

I chose this story to tell simply because as a child I was told I should never tell anyone. It’s a disgrace and no one would believe it anyway. For many years it has been my story. I told it to myself many times so that I should never forget because forgetting would mean that it never happened.

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