NKOMAZI – His love for mathematics and physical science could not quench the passion for literature in him.

Having had his love for writing sparked by his grandfather at a very young age, Jabulani Eric Mabaso, a maths and science teacher, had to follow both paths, numbers and literature.

The poet has written two anthologies of poetry, Through thin and thick and Spot On, both printed and published in the United States of America.

He say he is inspired by the things happening around him and the world at large.

“I write to spawn, assemble and perpetuate the spirit of reading in the people,” he says, adding that his perception of language and literature in high school was fairly amusing.

Growing up, he says, his beloved toys were pen and paper.”I thought that if I played with words, I would get it and of course, I finally got it,” he chuckles.

Mabaso says he started writing professionally in 2005 while he was busy with solving sums, studying towards becoming a maths teacher at Wits University.

He adds that to hone his writing skills, he used to have his articles published in the varsity’s weekly newspaper called Vuvuzela. He would also put up love and inspirational pieces of poems that suited any age group.

“Now, with the 150 poems that I have written, I’m confident to say that I’m a professional writer,” he humbly brags.

According to Mabaso, questions such as how he strikes a balance between maths, science and writing, are always echoing in his ears since he has heard them a million times.

“If you are passionate about something in your life, it is already balanced in your mentality and it will be easy for you to juggle your time around what you love doing,” he says.

He is inspired by poets like Lebo Mashile, Gabeba Baderoon, Makhosazana Xaba, to name but a few.

Currently he is writing a novel titled Money, the modern God and says the reason behind the title is the way money is being worshiped in today’s life.

To the youth, he advises reading, reading and more reading. “In this day and age, young people need to be updated at all times and reading is the best way to get ahead.”

Mabaso’s books can be purchased online at the following websites: Exclusive Books, Kalahari.com, Megabooks,Loot.co.za, Barnes and Noble,Amazon and directly from him by emailing ,mabasoje@webmail.co.za