The Big Cats Dance Party

Alexander McCall Smith is one of the world's most prolific and popular authors. His career has been a varied one: for many years he was a professor of medical law and worked in universities in the United Kingdom and abroad. However since the publication of his hugely successful No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, which has sold more than 20 million copies, he has devoted his time to writing fiction. He has written more than 100 books to date which have been translated into more than 40 languages and become bestsellers through the world. McCall Smith was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2007 and was made a Knight Bachelor in 2024. His multitude of other awards and honours include the 2004 Dagger in the Library Award, the 2004 British Book Award for Author of the Year and the 2022 Saltire Lifetime Achievement Award.

Chipo has read a number of books by award-winning Zimbabwean authors including The Book of Memory by Petina Gappah, Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga and Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo. Her credits in television include playing Xaphania in the BBC’s adaptation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials, and Eleanor Bennett in Hulu’s adaptation of Charmaine Wilkerson’s New York Times’ Bestseller Black Cake. In the theatre, her credits include the title role in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s inaugural production of Marlowe’s Dido, Queen of Carthage.