Mbokodo Publishers’ founder, Richard Mbokodo, said his concern about how people have no interest in reading Siswati and Isindebele books inspired him to launch the first annual Siswati and Isindebele Literary Awards.

This was during this first annual awards The Capital Mbombela on November 23.

In 2017, Mbokodo started reaching out to everybody to inform them about the importance of reading literature.

“My original decision was to encompass Siswati, Isindebele and English, but along the way I realised that the Siswati and Isindebele languages were not getting enough support and were being marginalised by the public. Even in bookstores these books were not bought,” he said.

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He said most workshops in South Africa were mostly done in English and other languages, other than Siswati and Isindebele.

Mbokodo said the youth were even failing to speak their mother tongue because they were too absorbed in Facebook and other social media where everything is predominantly in English.

“The youth spend most of their time in school. Mostly all the subjects are taught in English, and you find that Siswati and Isindebele will only be used if it is a period for these languages,” he said.

“We need to bring back reading for pleasure, because although there was no support, we still have people who continue to write in these languages, such as JJ Ncongwane and others who have been in this industry for decades.”

He said Mbokodo Publishers were conducting workshops for writers, including those who are visually impaired.

He said such workshops were held in Nkomazi and in the University of Mpumalanga’s Siyabuswa Campus, while a third one took place here in Mbombela.

“We train them how to write romantic novels in Siswati or Isindebele. Literature varies from one topic to the next.

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This event was also the start of many to follow, as we have decided to hand over the awards to writers of books in these languages,” said Mbokodo.

He added that from April to May, Mbokodo Publishers focused on unpublished writers who, according to him, were inspiring.

Mbokodo is a qualified publisher who graduated in the University of Pretoria.

Meanwhile, Dr Mafika Lubisi, a former lecturer at the University of Zululand and a former general manager of the Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation, and currently a lecturer for social sciences at the University of Mpumalanga, praised Mbokodo.

“I appreciate what Mbokodo Publishers are doing. These two languages are the least to be developed.

There are few books in these languages, there are few books written in these languages and few researchers are involved. Even with the Bible, these languages are the last to be translated,” said Lubisi.