The founder of KwaziThina Publishers, Nomawele Nonjongo, from Luqhoqhweni location in Lusikisiki, runs the Africa Teen Authors Book Initiative programme, with the aim of promoting writing and reading of African stories by teenagers, to promote the pan-African system of knowledge and solidarity.
Nonjongo came up with the idea in December 2020, after she was inspired by her two teenage sons, after they wrote books.
“Africa Teen Authors Book Initiative intends and strives to provide a credible storytelling platform for African teens throughout the continent to help Africa tell her own stories.
“We also want to give teens an opportunity to develop and hone their writing skills, while promoting literacy and literature among African teens,” said Nonjongo.
She said the writing programme was open for youth between the ages of 13 and 19, living in Africa. She added that the teens are invited to submit stories under a certain theme.
Nonjongo said the theme for 2021 was “African Teens in the COVID-19 Era”. This year, the theme is “Social Media’s Impact on Teenagers”.
“There were 60 teens who participated but there were only 44 who followed the theme and they all got certificates of participation.
“However, we were only looking for 25 outstanding stories and our judges were able to use their expertise in choosing the outstanding ones that formed part of the edited and published anthology of African short stories called African Teen Soul, focused on COVID-19 experience.”
She said the participants came from five African countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
She said they shared their deep insights on the diversity of the teens’ experience around the African continent and invaluable lessons learnt during this global pandemic.
She confirmed that it was published in September 2021. Nonjongo said the second series would be called African Teen Soul on Social Media, and it would be published between July and August this year.
- For more information send a WhatsApp message to 079 306 1668.
