Lauwo G. Lauwo

Lauwo G Lauwo is a Tanzanian fiction writer whose debut novel, Fineland, explores the disorientation, solitude, and self-discovery of a young African student navigating life in small-town Finland. Born in Tanzania and raised in Kilimanjaro, Lauwo’s journey from a rural village to earning a Master’s degree in Intercultural Communication in Finland—while learning to survive harsh winters, language barriers, and cultural estrangement—informs the emotional truth at the heart of his storytelling. Lauwo grew up reading all kinds of books, and wrote his way into the literary world—across continents and genres. His writing career began while balancing academic studies and working abroad, slowly chiseling Fineland into shape through literary workshops and mentorships. The manuscript was selected for the 2020 BIPOC Writers Connect program by The Writers’ Union of Canada and the League of Canadian Poets, and he was previously mentored by the Mawazo Africa Writing Institute’s Writing the Novel program. His short story The Isale Tree was published by the Vancouver Writers Fest after his participation in their My Roots workshop, and he has translated two Swahili short stories into English for an upcoming Commonwealth Writers anthology. Lauwo has completed two other novels. His second, No Place I’d Rather Be, explores the tense and complex relationship between a mother and daughter. His third, Enchanted Village—an African fantasy—draws inspiration from the rich oral storytelling traditions, folklore, and landscapes of East Africa. He currently divides his time between Canada and Tanzania.