It has often been said that authors are immortal as they carry on living through their words long after their souls have departed the Earth and Tsitsi Dangarembga is embracing that notion in such a unique way. According to The Guardian the Zimbabwean author joined the likes of Margaret Atwood and Ocean Vuong in a project that is going to lock away new writing for 93 more years. The Future Library project is set to see books by these authors and others to come only being published in the year 2114.
Tsitsi Dangarembga recently became the eighth author selected for the Future Library project, an organic artwork dreamed up by the Scottish artist Katie Paterson. A project that began in 2014.
For the Future Library project a forest of 1,000 Norwegian spruces has been planted in Norway, which will supply paper for a special anthology of books to be printed in 100 years time (from the time of planting in 2014). Between now and then, one writer every year will contribute a text, with the writings held in trust, unread and unpublished, until the year 2114. The manuscripts will be presented in a specially designed room in the new public library, Oslo. Writers to date include Margaret Atwood (2014), David Mitchell (2015), Sjón (2016), Elif Shafak (2017), Han Kang (2018), Karl Ove Knausgård (2019), Ocean Vuong (2020) and Tsitsi Dangarembga (2021).
Talking about artwork to The Guardian Tsitsi said, "It perfectly expresses my yearning for a human culture that centres the earth’s sustainability. I share with many other dwellers of our beautiful planet a deep sense of concern for our home’s wellbeing. Communicating through the project with those who will be present in 100 years’ time is thrilling and a privilege."
The author doesn't seem fazed that she won't get to know how the book is received. Commenting in an interview she expressed herself as her most important audience:
I’m always my first audience. So I think as long as I’m satisfied, then I’ll be ready to let it go. I’ve been writing for a long time, and lots of things, without a great deal of feedback. When it comes, for example with This Mournable Body, that’s wonderful. But a lot of my life has been writing into the void. So I’m used to writing into the void.
Tsitsi Dangarembga: Future Library perfectly expresses my yearning for a human culture that centres the earth’s sustainability. I share with many other dwellers of our beautiful planet a deep sense of concern for our home’s wellbeing. @efie41209591 @Rotevatn @MargaretAtwood pic.twitter.com/8dV1RgxLf1
— Future Library (@FuturelibraryNO) August 26, 2021