By: Wanjohi. P. Mugambi
“A good author is hard to find, one that touches you deep inside. By words he/she gives strength to carry on, He/she offers your mind a great story When times are tough, the writer offers support and shows you care.” Phibbian loves this phrase and Quote. She understands that writing comes with passion. Today We celebrate the voice of an African woman that has led many to believe in woman leadership and woman authorship. Alongside many women, Phibbian N Muthama is among the many women who have brought liberation of an African woman in the field of Writing.
Phibbian Muthama commonly known as Phibbian Riziki Muthama is a swahili language specialist and an accomplished author and translator. She is also a skilled voice over artist and interpreter. Miss Phibbian is a skilled Swahili- English translator with an extensive experience in language localization, subtitling and voice over production. Over the Years she is believed to be among the best voice over artists and her determination in languages is always on another level. Apart from her doing all this, Phibbian is skilled in teaching and mentoring learners in learning and understanding the Swahili language as well as understanding the cultural nuance for effective communication. She is recognized nationally for her sense of delivering accurate and culturally sensitive translations and providing high quality language solutions across various medic and professional settings.
Miss Muthama is a skilled author. She is the chief editor of Swahili Anthology Mapambazuko ya Machweo na hadithi nyingine which is the current Swahili short story set book and examinable book by the Kenya National Examination Council approved by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development. Alongside Prof Clara Momanyi, Prof Rahya Timammy, Pauline Kea she has written one story of a kind, “NILITAMANI” which features Tumaini as her main character. She explores different themes including Change, Work, Friendship, Greed for Money or Wealth as well as Love. Through Timaini, Phibbian has brought about human wants and how many of us want either change, love, friendship or a better or good life. She explains how Tumaini travels out of the country in search of a good life. How one faces deep suffering and challenges and the hope that eventually after all the suffering one endures there will always be light at the end of the tunnel. Truly it is among the best stories in Mapambazuko ya Machweo na Hadithi Nyingine.
That will be for another day, lets dwell with Miss Phibbian Muthama. Apart from her bestselling book, She has worked with KICD as a good editor as well as she aids in helping the junior and upcoming writers. She offers feedback to them and helps them in improving their writing skills. She advises her mentes to adhere to the guidelines given by the ministry of education as well as KICD in writing which allows her to be among good writers with a good heart.
This lady is all round. Phibbian Muthama has worked with multiple TV stations as she has hosted lessons at EDU tv which has helped the high school students in understanding the Swahili Set books. She is not only a TV host but also she is an actor. Phibbian has been in our famous screens Maisha Magic and ShowMax. She has acted as Ashley in Zari and I am sure many of you have seen her on your screens and knows her. She has also acted as Inspector Mirian in the Jiji Series at ShowMax. To add to it one of my favorite ones was her acting as Wife(Fauzia) in Garissa Ndogo produced by XaXa Production on Maisha Magic 2025. Truly if I do not call her the best actor whom will I call. She is the best if the best are to be called . He insights in film and acting has indeed brought to us different views of betrayal and how we can be able to handle situations and problems in our world today.
She is a multi-talented African Woman. Mostly with her voice. Who would even think an African Kamba Lady would have such a voice and be much more conversant with languages like her. She is a voice artist whose voice has reached a wide audience. With her voice we love to call her Nyar Akamba. The Daughter of Akamba. With her voice Phibbian has worked with NASA and Safaricom reach their customers.
Phibbian name is not only a household name but also it is international. She has visited many countries including Ghana, China, Tanzania, South Africa, America due to her wide love of languages. She has represented Kenya in International Conferences from the UN to World Universities Conference hence her reaching a great audience. When her name is mentioned, many people picture her differently. Maybe some see her as a giant for how she made them think in school while reading her sweet Story Nilitamani. Others see her as a friend. Actually I am here. She is truly a great person you can call a friend. Others would call her a great actor or even forget her name and call her Ashley wa Zari. Others would call her their perfect model or even a voice over artist. And truthfully all their names would be true to Miss Phibbian N Muthama.
Hence Muthama is an international name. Miss Muthama Phibbian won her lifetime achievement as she was awarded The Swahili Vision International Association Award as one of the African Women who has contributed and still does to the growth of Kiswahili as a language worldwide.
Today she is celebrated in Tanzania as Mwanamke Shupavu for her resilience, art of writing and most importantly her heart of gold as she keeps on holding new and upcoming writers in the field of authorship and also the field of acting.
Just a tease for her is that Phibbian is ever smiling. I do not know about her smile but i would tell the world that her smiles eradicate bad energy. She believes in change, she believes in hope and she is a great believer in a better tomorrow.
In conclusion let the world admire her, love her for who she is. Praise her for who she has become and the best of her that we are yet to experience. For she is a great inspiration to all Kenyan and African women. As she stands tall to fight for the positions we thought they were meant for the other gender.
We celebrate her today. She is truly a great friend as she was part of the Siri ya Mapambazuko Book Launch as she crowned it being the Guest of Honor. We call her a victor, a great translator and interpolator and a great voice over artist as well as Author and Actress. As she does what she believes best which is Preserving, Promoting and Globalizing Swahili through Education, Writing and Learning we wish her nothing but the best.
As authors it excites us
To view you the spotlight
This is your praise
And your story as the author
You create the cover
And makes the plot
You create the characters
And decides the twist
You are a great author
And with your legacy
We celebrate you today
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