It takes a lot to become a recognised writer. Among other things, it requires commitment, research, talent, discipline, a strict focus plan, and persistence. If one gets that right, then the sky is the limit.
Just ask Khayelitsha’s Bongekile Nqiyama, author of Izinto zimanukwenzeka, a collection of Xhosa stories and poems.
Bongekile was born in Ngcobo, Eastern Cape, and attended Falo Senior Secondary School in Cofimvaba, where he finished his matric in 2011.
At school he was always scribbling down lyrics and poems. He is now both a recognised and up and coming writer.
Bongekile said when he moved to Cape Town and while still trying to figure out the Mother City, he discovered a few things about himself and his values and he started writing.
“I have always been a writer, even from young I used a pen to communicate my feelings. That is why I would also write music.
“But I had to take a break from music because that industry is a dog eat dog kind of industry.
“In Cape Town it’s worse when your music is in an indigenous language like mine. But I have my passion, which is writing,” he told Vukani.
Talking about his collection of short stories and poems, he said he believes that if you are going to write you should have a proper plan, love for what you do and read and read.
“It should not be about you. You need to create different scenarios all together. People are not always interested in your personal story. Know your surroundings and topic and the message you want to put across,” he advised, adding that if you get that right, you will be recognised and respected.
In Ngcobo Bongekile enjoyed playing soccer, becoming known as the “General”.
He said it was soccer that kept him disciplined because his gym sessions kept him focused.
He hopes his book will have a positive impact on the community and that people will only find positive messages in his writings. He said his writing is influenced by things that he has seen.
“There is a lot to write about in both Cape Town and back home. My wish now is to have more authors writing in isiXhosa. We have deserted our cultures because we are not writing in our mother tongues.
“Our children are struggling to read and write because we believe in foreign things.
“I wish we can have something that as writers can bring us in one place, a forum of some sort to discuss these issues and concerns,” he said.
In parting, Bongekile said parents must promote their languages instead of believing that foreign languages are better than their own.
Bongekile is still selling his own books and some copies can be found at the local Whizzkid IT Centre in Site C.
He can be contacted on 073 290 8081 or 062 507 5024.