Kgosi Khumalo is an artist-cum-entrepreneur. He is also the first black person on the West Rand to establish an art gallery in the township. Marah Louw’s (former Muvhango and The Queen actress) book, It’s me, Marah: An Autobiography, was launched at the Backyard Art Gallery in Kagiso, and many art-related events were also held there.
Kgosi recently launched a book store and private library at the gallery, where the two are housed. He will sell and lend books (all genres) at the same time. The launch was well attended. The Backyard Art Gallery owner says he wants to promote the culture of reading in the area. However, he is venturing into a risky business – that of selling books.
Many bookstores have – and are – closing down. It’s not that there is no longer a market for books, but readers have shifted to digital or online books.
The pertinent question is: Will Kgosi make a success of his business?
I want to believe that he’s done his research and that his business plan shows that there is a niche market. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be starting a business that is destined to fail.
The Backyard Art Gallery owner is a maverick and not afraid of taking risks. He has been involved in various business ventures (such as events and organising) before. Some ventures failed, others succeeded.
So, he has business experience.
It is my hope and prayer that Kgosi will succeed in his business. I also hope that locals will support him, as they always do, and buy books from his store. If he fails, we won’t blame him for trying.
* Thank you for bringing Kgosi’s story to our attention, Thabile; we are most certainly going to visit him and his establishment soon to introduce him to the community — Ed.
