LINGIWE Patience Sifelani, who has established herself as a poet of repute and musician over the years, recently published her debut novel as she branched out into prose.
Following the colourful launch of the novel, Good for Nothing, in Gweru recently, Sifelani said she had always loved storytelling.
“I have always loved storytelling and discovered I had trouble summarising,” she told NewsDay Life & Style.
“My poems became longer and I decided to write stories. I believe I preach better through short stories and novels.”
Good for Nothing tells the story of a young girl from a poor background who goes through numerous struggles before eventually hitting a purple patch.
Sifelani described writing the story as cathartic.
“This story was inspired by personal and borrowed experiences of pain and heartbreaks. So, I sought possible ways of finding healing,” she said.
“The book explores crucial issues affecting both girls and boys, girl child empowerment, family dynamics, societal expectations, and equally important mental health issues.”
- Gweru youths venture into trash economy
- Nasty Trixxx, Madiz in surprise reunion
- Diamond Berry holds Winter Affair
- Passport office contractor in row over payments
Keep Reading
Literature, Sifelani said, was a tool to communicate society’s challenges and proffer possible solutions and her hope was that readers would find healing through reading it.
On balancing writing and her other life commitments, she said: “Since I’m passionate about writing, I always have time to write.
“I normally write in the early hours of the morning or late at night and it doesn’t disrupt my daily schedules or life commitments. Everything balances itself out.”
Sifelani said it was important, especially for women, to write because they had always been storytellers.
“We generally have a lot to say about the life and relationships we prefer, child nurturing, home making, cooking, preserving cultures or general livelihood.
“This will definitely be beneficial to future generations.”
The creative said she was greatly inspired by local authors such as Simbarashe Nyamadzawo and J Kawara as well as international authors Maya Angelou of the United States and Nigeria’s Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Sifelani, whose debut music album, Worthy of All My Praise, came out in 2017, has previously published a poetry collection.
