A memoir to reflect on lessons learnt
ROSEBANK – A memoir launch also included a birthday celebration as Unathi Nkayi launched her first book.
Family and friends came out to support media personality Unathi Nkayi at her memoir launch at Exclusive Books in Rosebank.
Co-founder of Sifiso Publishers, Doctor Judy Dlamini said their publishing house was on a mission to change the narrative of an African child and Nkayi was one such individual whose narrative needed to be told.
Radio personality Melanie Bala added that we come from a history where the African stories were not told but now there is an opportunity to write these books and tell the stories.
Co-author of the memoir titled I Keep Learning, Kabomo Vilakazi said, “I think a person needs to tell their own story otherwise someone else will do whatever they want with your story. We decided that, since it was our first time writing a book, we would set our own rules and follow our own format.”
Vilakazi added that since he has been a (song) writer all along, his role was to assist Nkayi to release her writing voice as well as be a friend to her. “In an era where women are being suppressed, raped and violated, I thought it was appropriate to let a young girl out there know that there is a woman who stands up against all that. We agreed to create something graceful, classy and honest – telling a truth in integrity.”
Nkayi said the first suggested title for the memoir had been ‘A better me’, however she hadn’t completed the journey of self-discovery and decided to go with ‘I keep learning’. “I am still on a journey and I keep learning. My biggest lesson has been discovering that since I want to give others the best love, energy and inspiration, therefore, I need to give myself those values first before I can give them to anyone else.”
She spoke about certain extracts in her book and said that discipline is a very important aspect of her life as it keeps her grounded. Another extract focused on her children and said that because of their family structure, Nkayi was able to express her imperfections as a newly-single parent and she learnt from those imperfections and improved.
Seeing as it was Nkayi’s birthday too, the family and rest of the attendants sang a birthday song in celebration with the author before the book signing.
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