The University of Iowa’s International Writing Program (IWP) is a unique conduit for the world’s literatures, connecting well-established writers from around the globe, bringing international literature into classrooms, introducing American writers to other cultures through reading tours, and serving as a clearinghouse for literary news and a wealth of archival and pedagogical materials. Since 1967, over 1,600 writers from more than 160 countries have been in residence at the University of Iowa.

Zodwa Nyoni is a Zimbabwean-born playwright, screenwriter, librettist, and director. Her debut play, BOI BOI IS DEAD won the Channel 4 Playwrights’ Scheme in 2014. It was also a finalist for the international Susan Smith Blackburn Prize 2014/15.

Since, her plays have been produced in the UK, France, Germany, USA, Zimbabwe and South Africa. She has written two radio plays, LOVE AGAIN (BBC Radio 3) and A KHOISAN WOMAN (Drama on 3); and three short films: MAHOGANY, NOTES ON BEING A LADY and the award winning, THE ANCESTORS (BBC Films and BFI Network).

Zodwa supports multidisciplinary artists and writers. She’s currently an associate dramaturg for Tiata Fahodzi and Fifth Word Theatre; and a Lecturer in Scriptwriting at Manchester Metropolitan University. She was an international fellow on Oxbelly’s inaugural Episodic Program in Greece. She is a BAFTA Connect member and was on the writing team for Netflix’s spin-off series, CASTLEVANIA: NOCTURNE. Series 2 premiered in January 2025.

Zodwa followed this with LIBERATION, a play celebrating the 80 th anniversary of the Fifth Pan African Congress a Royal Exchange Manchester as part of Manchester International Festival. It was nominated for Best Playwright at the Black British Theatre Awards and is longlisted for the Alfred Fagon Award. She also premiered a new opera; TEARS ARE NOT MEANT TO STAY AT INSIDE for Buxton International Festival.

Zodwa is currently developing a new stage play for Bristol Old Vic, writing a feature film supported by the Early Development Fund BFI; and is a script editor on a Film 4 project written and directed by Adeyemi Micheal.

Zodwa says, “IWP is a such a great opportunity for a writers. I’m looking forward to being part of a global community developing stories and having cultural exchanges.”

The Residency, which usually runs from late August to mid-November, is designed for established and emerging creative writers — poets, fiction writers, dramatists, and nonfiction writers. The minimum requirements are that they have published at least one book, and that they possess sufficient proficiency in English to benefit from the Iowa experience. Zodwa was nominated by Manchester City of Literature.

The Residency provides writers with time for the production of literary work. It also introduces them to the social and cultural fabrics of the United States, enables them to take part in American university life, and creates opportunities for them to contribute to literature courses both at the University of Iowa and across the country.