Byo author promotes indigenous languages

By The NewsDay | May. 13, 2021 | 2 Min read

BULAWAYO-BASED author and poet Mthulisi “KingKG Gatsheni” Ndlovu recently opened a publishing house, Ubuntu Afro-Publishers targeting mostly young aspiring writers focusing more on indigenous languages.

BY DARLINGTON MWASHITA

Ndlovu told NewsDay Life & Style that the publishing house was ready to make every writer’s dream come to life.

“The inspiration to open a publishing house has been necessitated by various issues. Firstly it is to restore dignity and integrity in our local languages. Our local languages are languishing in segregation and it pains me that most writers now prefer English to our local languages,” he said.

“To young authors, it is still noble to write in our traditional languages. There is still value in our traditional languages and it is noble to consider our own Africanness as equally worth it.”

Ndlovu said as a young author, he had a terrible experience working with traditional publishers who benefited a lot from the works of rising authors.

“As traditional publishers are feasting on our sweat as young authors, l decided to bring something new, unique and mutually beneficial to content creators,” he said.

Ndlovu said great projects in indigenous languages were lined up for official launches.

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“We are currently working with a number of up-and-coming and established authors around Zimbabwe with some coming from outside the country,” he said.

Ubuntu Afro-Publishers spokesperson Mthabisi Mnkandla said they sought to promote indigenous talent and enhance cultural diversity.

“Our major point of interest lies in the production, publication of both academic and non-academic content in traditional African languages (minority languages),” he said.

“Our publishing house mainly intends to promote raw and rare talent that is lying dormant in most of the African societies especially in remote areas.

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