#WeRead: Creativity can save lives says Bedfordview author (Video)

Bedfordview resident Christian Lukusa, the author of upcoming anthology A mental resurrection, hopes to promote mental health and give people a sense of purpose.

Christian’s book is a poetry book and compromises of stories dealing with content of suicide, depression, mental illness, drug abuse, traditional masculinity, misogyny and xenophobia.
The 24-year-old said his book is self-published with Reach Publishers.

“My belief is if you are mentally well, you can take on anything in life,” said Christian.

He said some of the stories come from his experiences at school and the experiences of people around him. He believes school is where mental health issues begin.
“You are taught in school to be prim and proper with your uniform and to always have a smile on your face. “However, many are faced with personal difficulties, such as being abused at home.”

He included those affected by these difficulties had to pretend and still succumb to judgments of being tested and pushed to passing with good results.
“People may have also been bullied and this has had a dire effect on them and changed their lives forever,” said Christian.

Writing of the book started last year during a time that gender-based violence was highlighted in the media which he said also influenced his book.
“I wrote a poem about student Uyinene Mrwetyana, which states Is it easier for South African women to die than to get a degree?”

He said what comes after a matric certificate shouldn’t be a death certificate for women.

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Christian believes the book is for victims, but also for everyone who attended high school and may have experienced these difficulties.
“The book is also about unity, how you may have been told you are different because of the colour of your skin,” he said.

Christian said these are lies that hinder the strength you may have inside.

“For me, writing means healing. Some people cannot turn darkness into art, they only express their pain, and therefore I respect artists and thus writing has become my art.”

According to Christian he has been around many victims who inspire him to write and has in turn inspired him to become an author.

The goal for the book, in terms of the message, is to show people there was a pandemic already before the pandemic.

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“The pandemic is humanity, how you hurt yourself with yourself, and I want to show people there is still hope,” he said.

Women is a focus for Christian, as the book is mostly about them, but also the youth as he would like the book to be in schools.

“I am also a Pearson Institute Ambassador of Education where I do talks at schools, specifically with a poem in the book which speaks about the teacher and learner relationships.”

“What inspires me in life is being told I can’t do it. People are dying of depression, this is why you need to stick to what you love. In turn that love will save you,” said Christian.

For now, other than his upcoming book, he plans to launch a poetry session.

The book is in the layout phase and will be released in weeks to come.

Follow Christian on Instagram @christian_louk and Twitter @christianlouk