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Mthabisi Tshuma, [email protected]

CELEBRATED author of Ndebele literature, Zibusiso Condry Mabonisa, has been nominated three times for the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAA) Outstanding Ndebele Literature Work since 2021. Now, he is aiming for the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) this year.

His book “UKhethiwe”, a fiction novel, is in the running for the Outstanding Fiction Book award.

He hopes to follow the footsteps of Bryony Rheam and Violette Kee-Tui, who won the same award for their books “Whatever Happened to Rick Astley” and “The Magic and Masala” respectively.

Mabonisa is grateful for the recognition and the opportunity to showcase his culture and language.

“I am very excited, I feel honoured, and it’s not everyone who dreams for this who comes to experience it. I believe I got the nomination because of the love of my language which is my culture , I thrive to see my culture being recognised at national level and beyond.

“Also, the dedication and persistence to what I am doing, I started writing when I was in the rural areas of Kezi, not knowing how a book is published or anyone who will help me to publish a book, but I told myself that writing is what I love and I will do it, the rest will happen for itself and it did happen,” said Mabonisa.

He also wants to raise the profile of the Matabeleland region and its authors.

“If we can go back to 15 years ago, if I am not mistaken, there is no IsiNdebele author who won this gong under the category of creative fiction, I believe this gong has over the years become almost impossible to win for an IsiNdebele author, so to win it in Bulawayo will bring it closer to every IsiNdebele author. I hope to win it for IsiNdebele as a language.

“This year my projections are to distribute my publications. I have about seven publications of both individual and collaborations. I feel like I need to find a way of distributing them to the public. I have also embarked on filmmaking, I hope to produce more films to the one I did last year,” said Mabonisa.

Mabonisa was inspired by the works of Mr Ezekiel Hleza, Barbara Makhalisa, Ndabezinhle Sigogo, Pathisa Nyathi, Naison Tfwala and many other legends. He started his career in 2015 and has since met most of his role models. He believes he has grown as an artist, but he also faces challenges in reaching his audience.

“Since joining the industry in 2015, the journey has been great. Along the line I managed to meet with most of these literature legends. I think I have grown to be a matured artist over the years.

“However, due to the close to dead reading culture in our community nowadays, as an author you tend to get disappointed by how your work is received by the community. This is why I think we as authors still have a long way to convince them to receive our work with high enthusiasm,” said Mabonisa. —@mthabisi_mthire