Teen author from Thohoyandou publishes 1st book

LIMPOPO – At only 16 years old, Mukonisi Radzilani from Dzimauli Tshapasha outside Thohoyandou has penned ‘The Literacy Collection: The Heartbeat of Venda’.

The Gr 10 learner from Rambuda Secondary School said he started writing at a young age because he had many thoughts he could not always say out loud. Writing, he explained, became his way of talking to himself and to the world.

Radzilani said his childhood was shaped by his grandmothers, Azwitamisi Nefefe and Phophi Mbedzi, who often shared the old stories of the Venda people.

“Those stories planted something deep inside me – a love for culture, history and words. I see myself as someone still growing and learning, but already walking on the path that God and my ancestors have set for me.

“Losing my grandmother on my mother’s side was painful. Seeing my mother’s tears inspired me to write instead of bottling up my emotions. My grandmother also told me about Ngomalungundu, the great leader, and those stories built a bridge for me, a bridge I wanted to cross as a writer. Through writing, I realised I could carry her stories forward while healing myself,” he said.

He described his writing journey as challenging but beautiful.

“It started as personal therapy, a way of self-talk. Then it grew into poems, short stories, and eventually this book. Each word I wrote gave me strength, and every page became a piece of me learning who I am. At first, fear was my biggest challenge. I feared what people would say, whether my writing would be taken seriously, or if I was even good enough. But my parents encouraged me, reminded me that my gift is real, and helped me believe in myself. That support gave me the courage to publish,” said Radzilani.

He added that his family has been his backbone. “From the beginning, when I first spoke about publishing, I was scared. But they made the process easy. My parents take my talent seriously and always remind me that this gift should not be wasted.

“Their support keeps me going. Being a writer means being a voice for myself, for my people, and for future generations. I decided to write The Heartbeat of Venda to preserve the culture and stories of my people. It is not just a book; it is my way of honouring my ancestors and speaking to the future,” he said.

Radzilani said his ultimate goal is to inspire. “I want young people, especially from villages, to believe their dreams are valid. I also want to keep telling stories that preserve our culture and identity, while growing as a writer and a person,” he said.