BULAWAYO author and novelist Nkosilamandla Kunene (25) has taken a nostalgic look at his writing career, highlighting the milestones and challenges that have defined his journey from a budding poet to a published author.
With a string of publications under his belt, including his debut book Umthombo Wolwazi Ngombuso WeZulu and two anthologies Inkundla Yenkondlo and Uhambo, Kunene's reflection offers a rare glimpse into the life and times of one of Zimbabwe's most exciting new literary voices.
Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style, Kunene said his writing journey had been a learning and a transformative one.
“I won't lie, there were ups, downs and moments where I felt like throwing in the towel,” Kunene said.
"Lucky for me, I had icons to look up to and peers to push me forward."
He said he felt honoured to be identified in Skyz Metro FM's Amadramatics, Bulawayo Poetic Justice, Imvuselelo Yolimili Lamasiko AmaNdebele and the International Writers Community.
“I remember penning my first poem in 2010 inspired by the birth of my little sister. From then, I've lost count of how many poems I've written. My greatest landmark in this journey is the Inkonyane KaNdaba Arts family, a group of young poets I founded in 2017 and it is with them that I've grown to be the artist that I am today,” he said.
His first book Umthombo Wolwazi Ngombuso WeZulu was published in 2022 and his first two anthologies Inkundla Yenkondlo and Uhambo in 2023.
“Before these I had collaborated with other poets from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Germany and India in publishing various projects. Be that as it may, I feel the best project that I worked on with other poets was under the supervision of the iconic Barbra C Makhalisa Nkala in 2022,” he said.
The author is currently working on two anthologies and two novels which may be published this year.
Kunene noted that his journey has not been smooth all the time, due to challenges that every writer encounters.
“As writers, there's the biggest issue that we all come across — the writer's block. That has been my biggest challenge, followed by sponsorship, a ready market for the literary works and the hefty fees we now have to pay for International Standard Book Numbers."
Kunene noted that he is storyteller and teacher and what he writes tells a certain story and teaches about something either social, economic, political or environmental.