20/08/2026
THE MAKING OF VIVULI VYA MTO — BY ERNEST RENS (https://a.co/d/01iLtODN)
Every book has a story behind the story.
Vivuli Vya Mto is one of those projects that has evolved far beyond what I initially imagined. It began as an idea, then slowly became a world of its own—shaped by questions of suffering, consequence, identity, spirituality, and the things that remain with us long after we believe we have moved on.
The title itself carries a sense of mystery. Vivuli Vya Mto—“Shadows of the River”—speaks to the idea that some things are never truly left behind. They follow us. They linger beneath the surface. And sometimes, the further we travel, the closer we come to the very things we were trying to escape.
What makes this project particularly important to me is that I am not approaching it simply as another book. I am building an experience around it—one that allows the story, its themes and its visual identity to develop together.
The making of Vivuli Vya Mto has therefore been a process of discovering what the book wants to become rather than forcing it into a predetermined shape.
And this is only the beginning.
Where is it headed?
That is the exciting part.
Vivuli Vya Mto is being developed with the intention of becoming more than a standalone piece of literature. I want to explore its potential across different forms of storytelling and creative expression, while preserving the atmosphere, mystery and emotional weight at the heart of the original work.
There is still much to uncover.
There are stories within the story.
There are shadows beneath the surface.
And the river has not finished speaking.
This is the making of Vivuli Vya Mto.
— Ernest Rens
Writer | Author | Publisher
Phoenix Rens Communications
Phoenix Rens Online
