A SOMVUBU High School teacher in Matabeleland North province is using literature to express himself, much like a sketch artist does on his canvas.
Emmanuel Shelton Ndlovu, hailing from KoGodlwayo in Filabusi, seeks to educate citizens with his novel titled Awu Nkosi Yami.
Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style, Ndlovu said the literature bug bit him at a tender age and, as the old idiom says, “the rest is history”.
“My passion for writing started when I was in primary school. I used to write short stories just to amuse people. I remember when I was in Form Two, I wrote a short novel in a counter book. My teachers read it and loved it, passing it on from to one another,” he said.
“I would write often, but it took so long before I actually published a book as I only managed to finally do so in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Ndlovu said his works were not to entertain, adding that he did not take a comic approach in his writing. He delves into family dynamics with particular focus on how members of a family co-exist.
“I’ve often been told that some people who read Awu Nkosi Yami did so with tissues in their hands as they become quite emotional. My aim is to vividly depict the ills of society as uncouth as they may be,” he said.
“I would say what drives me is what is happening in the world, in schools, villages and everywhere and I like to articulate real life social occurrences that we as people see on a daily basis and that people can relate to.”
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“I like to teach and disillusion people, especially when it comes to things that they should and should not do. This is my way of avoiding a situation whereby there is moral decadence.”
“Growing up I read many novels to a point that I have lost count but I can say that the number could be around 200 novels. I looked up to the likes of Barbara Makhalisa, SK Hleza, IN Mpofu, NS Sigogo, David Magagula, Mayford Sibanda and so forth. They inspired me to publish novels of my own,” the author said.
Ndlovu says he would like to see his works adopted by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council as set books for literature all the way to Advanced Level.
“I have noted the lack of a reading culture in children nowadays due to the advent of technology and those who actually read books do that as part of learning and only read set books. That is something that should change,” Ndlovu said.
The talented writer said his second book was complete but was still in the hands of his publishers awaiting publishing.
Ndlovu did his schooling at Mbawulo Primary and Mbawulo Secondary schools before completing his 'A' Levels at Nswazi High School. He then attained his teaching qualification at Hillside Teachers College. He currently teaches Geography and Ndebele.
