Mawunyo Gbogbo is a FASS alum, completing a Master of Arts in Creative Writing in 2008, who now works for Double J and ABC News as a Music and Pop Culture Reporter.
She has recently published a book through Penguin Random House, Hip Hop & Hymns, described as a “memoir of loving hard, falling apart and fighting back, set to an unrivalled playlist”.
Listed in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers as non-fiction pick of the week in June, Gbogbo’s book was praised as an “uncompromising self-portrait” and a “fiercely candid but circumspect memoir”.
Beginning with her family’s immigration in the 1980's from Ghana to Muswellbrook in NSW’s Hunter Region, and detailing her experiences of love, friendship, and racism, the book eventually sees Gbogbo move to New York, where she takes an opportunity at “the Bible of hip hop”, The Source magazine. Gbogbo’s memoir ultimately is a story of belonging and self-acceptance “about daring greatly and what it can mean to be Black in Australia”.
Mawunyo was kind enough to sit down with FASS and answer a few questions about the book, her love of Hip hop, and her time at UTS.
What years did you study at UTS?
I studied part-time from 2006 – 2008. My graduation ceremony was in 2009.
There’s a quote from your book where you describe Hip hop and hymns as being like two sides of your life going hand in hand, “the sacred and the profane”. Can you talk more about this? What do you think it is about faith that shapes your search for belonging in the book?
I have never felt like I was a good enough Christian and that in itself made me an even worse Christian! I talk in the book about how I’ve always been an all or nothing person, for example when I failed a diet, I would throw my hands up in the air and think – ‘well, I might as well eat the whole tub of ice cream now.’
But I came to the realisation that God isn’t asking for perfection. Perfection is too difficult to achieve. I had to come to the realisation that God loves me regardless, and that certainly invoked a sense of belonging.
As for hip hop – just try and keep me away from it – impossible! My love for hip hop stretches back to those first few singles and albums I listened to as a teenager. It’s a love affair that can’t be broken, so ultimately hip hop and hymns have to coincide in my world, and as far as I’m concerned it isn’t an uneasy union – they compliment each other and highlight different elements of my character.
What was it like at The Source?
Interning at The Source magazine would have been an incredible experience for anyone, but as a massive hip-hop fan who used to read it growing up in a country town in Australia – you can just imagine how phenomenal it was for me being in New York City living the dream.
I got to be hands-on. I was working in PR. One day I’d be writing a press release, the next I’d be helping to organise a press conference. It was extraordinary, and I still pinch myself thinking that’s what I was doing as a 21-year-old.
Was this book an idea you were working on for a long time? Can you tell us about the writing process?
Yes, the story has been with me for a long time, but I wasn’t working on it all that time. It was really only after I was signed to my publisher that I treated it like a day job. I was fortunate enough to secure a grant from the Australia Council for the Arts, so I was able to take some time off work and focus entirely on my manuscript.
I had multiple alarms I would set throughout the day reminding me to take breaks – and I even had an alarm that would go off at the end of the day congratulating me for my efforts. Not every day was about getting a certain number of words on the page – especially early on. I did a lot of planning and research – I compiled character profiles, teased out settings, and created a structure outline.
I was very lucky as I also worked very closely with my publisher/editor at Penguin Random House throughout the process to get it into shape.
What made you want to study Creative Writing at UTS?
I wanted to study Creative Writing because I was keen to write a book! The course at UTS proved a great way to get a taste of a variety of different creative writing styles. My subjects included Screenwriting, Creative Non-Fiction, and Novel Writing Workshop.
So, I was able to learn the tricks of the trade, meet other writers, read books I might otherwise not have read, and really get a sense of what it takes to be a writer.
You’re also a journalist – how does the storytelling process differ for you between writing memoir (or more ‘creative’ pieces) against writing a news piece?
Well, the first obvious difference is I’m rarely writing about myself in a news piece. Writing so intimately about myself was a challenge – but it’s been rewarding to come across so many people who’ve been touched by my story and with whom it’s really resonated with.
I think there are similarities too – I strive to write my news pieces in an engaging way – and it shows in the stats! People don’t just click on my stories, they actually spend time reading them. That’s because they’re well written, and I often apply many of the techniques I’ve picked up along the way from the different types of writing I dabble in.
Finally – who’s in your top 5?
Pusha T, Rick Ross, 21 Savage, 6Lack, and WizKid.
Hip Hop & Hymns is out now through Penguin Random House.
If you're interested in studying Creative Writing at UTS, consider one of these courses: