Young author inspires

Born in Itsani in Vhembe, a young author, Masindi Netshakhuma, had the opportunity of observing her peers and others going through their lives.

Armed with her personal experience, the 22-year-old first year BEd student at the University of the North used a pen and paper to address youth challenges.

Her first poetry work, Vision and Legacy, on which she collaborated with Gudani Ramikosi Bila of the Lampstand Book Club, was launched last November.

About her career as an author, Netshakhuma said that she had gone to the Indoni Cultural School to learn about cultures as a way of boosting her knowledge. She further indicated that she had been performing poetry since she had been in primary school and she had been a guest speaker at some radio stations such as Mala FM, Makhado FM and Univen FM.

Some of her Venda poems were accepted for publication through the Avbob Poetry competition in 2017 and 2018. Her poems are mostly inspired by the life of the existing generation, her experience and views. "Youths of today are going astray; many are being lost to drugs, alcohol and diseases. They need a coach who will encourage them.”

She said that she wanted to encourage her generation not to give up in life, no matter the odds. “I am here to tell them there is no longer an excuse not to succeed in life," she said. She added that she would be very happy if the book were prescribed at schools, because her target audience was the youth.

The book is self-marketed and those wishing to get copies can do so by phoning her at 076 419 8872.

Entertainment - Date: 19 January 2019

Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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