Maphumulo-born wordsmith Bhekinkosi Maqhuzu Ngwenya is one of the country’s most prolific authors and is working to empower the next generation of creatives.

Bhekinkosi has published 23 books since his debut novel in 2016 and has helped to inspire hundreds of pupils through his ‘A Chorus of Rustics Writers Club’ launched in the same year.

In 2023, he established A Chorus of Rustics Publishers and Distributors, a publishing house aimed at making a challenging industry more accessible and affordable for marginalised writers. His books, and some of those published by A Chorus of Rustics, are used by the Gauteng Department of Education and are stocked in municipal libraries countrywide.

Bhekinkosi will be in Groutville this weekend as a panelist and exhibiting author at the iLembe Book Festival at the Luthuli Museum.

“I’m excited to bring my team to experience literature at its best,” he said.

“I’ll be attending with young authors from my writing club who have been published under my publishing house.”

Bhekinkosi hopes his story will help inspire creatives who come from difficult backgrounds. He grew up in an abusive household and turned to writing to escape the feeling of isolation in childhood.

“I was a bright student and although I faced many challenged along the way, I managed to break free through language,” he said.

After moving to Johannesburg for work, he found the confidence to seek publication after being encouraged by friends and colleagues who connected with his writing. Following his first book, White but not God, Bhekinkosi’s output has included novels like The Missing Colour in the Rainbow and Afrika My Beginning, Afrika My Ending.

The iLembe Book Festival will run from 9am-5pm this Saturday, with a variety of programmes for everyone from children to aspiring authors. Entry is Free.

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