The sneaky New Year’s reflective bug always hits, doesn’t it? 

On the 31st of December 2015, perched in my dorm room in Ningbo, a relatively unknown city in China, I was sure of one thing: 2016 had to be different. And so, I said a silent prayer, asking God for a sign on which direction to take my life. The words Crooked Lanes were imprinted in my heart. Inspired by this vision, I worked with a designer who captured the heart of the brand. A few weeks later, Crooked Lanes was launched as a blog about lifestyle, culture, travel, and all the beautiful, messy in-betweens. 

I ran the blog for a few years. After relocating back home to Zimbabwe, I expanded its focus, covering small business start-ups, cultural events, and even bringing in reporters in hopes of evolving into a full-fledged media company. Crooked Lanes also developed a stationery store arm, selling customised pieces with motivational quotes and kiddie party goody bags. But as freelance consultancy work steadily took over, the dream quietly faded.

Crooked Lanes became just a memory. Yet the urge to write and create, this time enriched by my experiences in various cultural and media spaces kept nudging me. The name itself felt too long-winded, and so I shortened it to something that felt lighter.

This second chapter, now CL MEDIA, is an evolution of that original dream. It’s a celebration of all my creative passions, including storytelling through text, photography, and video, working with a team of fellow creators ready to bring meaningful stories to life.

Welcome to CL MEDIA, Crooked Lanes, rebirthed!