Michelle Kazaka

I’m Michelle Kazaka. I am a mother of 3, a new Mainer for about 5 years and in my spare time, a storyteller/writer. My passion for storytelling already existed when I was just 5 years old, gathering my siblings and the rest of my family around the big mango tree in our backyard almost every night. I then graduated from a local University in Kinshasa with a degree in Journalism, where my passion for writing stemmed from.

Being born in Kinshasa, DRC, passing through various African countries throughout the course of my life and eventually finding myself in Maine gave me quite the unique experience- or so I thought. Coming here, I found so many other people who shared similar experiences with me, making me feel heard and like I belonged for the first time in my life.This is why I wrote my book, How Long The Night, to provide a voice, a perspective from all immigrants who found themselves in Maine after a long journey that lasted almost their entire lives. This book is a memoir that reflects my story, in which some will learn from and some will relate to.

Additionally, I still go around various communities (events, gatherings, etc), telling my story in different ways, providing a physical representation and voice of the person behind the writing.