MAKING BOOKS WORTHWHILE IN TWENTY FIRST CENTURY

Thami Magongo

Mbabane, Eswatini

 My name is Thami Bongani Magongo from Mbabane, Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland). I am a writer/poet, blogger, a columnist at Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) under Creative Arts. I am is also a winner of Mulher Forte African Literature Awards and a recipient of the AfriCAN Honoree Authors’ Awards 2021. I am an author of a poetry book titled’ A War Against Hate’ which addresses violations of human rights, that is gender based violence and gender minorities. It also addresses mental health awareness and politics. I have also been awarded by Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in an international competition. I am equipped with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities obtained from the University of Eswatini and literature is one of my majors. I have a passion for words and a passion for critical writing and reading.

Being a force to be reckoned with, I believe I have clarity on where I’m going. I think it’s all about alignment and believing in your craft before expecting someone else to.

2. My Inspiration to write stems from the fact that I’m a literature scholar and having graduated from literary work I developed a strong interest in both writing and reading. I made a commitment to myself that I am going to be an author someday and also having been inspired by local and international writers.
3. Books do yield income but I believe that shouldn’t be the desire for any writer to start writing or getting into the world of storytelling just for the money or celebrity significance. However, we can not run away from the fact that writers or scholars of literary works also what to earn a living through their work, I guess it’s all about balancing the two.
4. I strongly believe Africans read and do invest in books and publications. It may not seem enough but looking back, I see change. There has been a revolution in reading and writing.
5. To increase sales in Africa, we can explore multiple passages which include social media where a large number of people are connected and can notice your work. Social Media can be manipulated, have it work in our favour, market ourselves, and our work and also where one can have access to it.
6. When I sold my first copy of the book I was overjoyed. It’s always the first step, the first copy of a book and for me, that was enough to keep a positive emotion. We’ve sold more than 60 copies and that’s just incredible.
7. I can courageously advise upcoming authors to write as there is still more room for new material produced by local and/or African writers. To write not only about literature but to produce books on other subjects like economics, physical sciences and others, by Africans for African readers.
8. My book speaks on the issues of human rights, with that being said I have had the opportunity to work with some of the esteemed and committed organisations like SNAT, Mulher Forte African Literature, Men Engage Swaziland, Kwakha Indvodza, Uneswa FM, Brema FM, Swagaa, Alliance Francaise de Mbabane where some copies of my books are available for sale and had the opportunity to perform Public Reading. The national library in Mbabane and the Kwaluseni library also house some of copies of the book and I believe this is the inception, we still have a long way to go.
9. Networking in book world is very important. Most of the readers who supported my work and make it possible for publication to be a success were people from social networks who bought the idea through presses and made it a reality.
10. Ebooks vs hard copies, I think these two complement each other in the sense that one gives you the same content but in a different format. I think what’s best for you as an author is to protect your work, copyrights / inventions. The traditional hard copy, however, still gets on well with some if not most readers as it gives you the excitement of clutching and having yourself tied up with the book.
11. Thank you for speaking with me and I would like to thank every one who bought a copy of A War Against Hate and everyone who has been part of this marvellous journey. To also appreciate authors, publishers and everyone involved in the industry of arts. I thank you.