Giyani author champions Xitsonga through writing
LIMPOPO – Nhlulo Mtileni, a 20-year-old author from Nkuri village near Giyani, is on a mission to inspire young people to write in their mother tongue. He believes that writing in indigenous languages allows for authentic self-expression while preserving cultural heritage.
Mtileni began his writing journey at just 12 years old in 2017. Since then, he has authored four books and contributed to three co-writing projects. His published works include three poetry collections, N'winyi wa Nkosi, Vurila Xintserere, and When the Game is Over We Shall All Return Home, and a novel titled Rila Moya Wanga. All were published in 2025, except N'winyi wa Nkosi, which won both the Xitsonga Literary Award and the African Honoree Authors Award in 2024.
'I started writing in Gr 6 while in primary school,' he said. 'I was encouraged by the late Moses Mtileni, an author who had a deep passion for writing in Xitsonga.'
Mtileni credits authors Nghetlenge Case Ngobeni and Vonani Bila as his role models. 'They understand the value of language and culture. They take their time with their craft, ensuring they deliver quality work. Their dedication inspires me to stay committed to my writing journey,' he said.
Looking to the future, Mtileni has big dreams. 'I want my books to be widely known and to inspire other young authors. More than anything, I want my work to help strengthen the presence of the Xitsonga language in people's hearts.'
For more information about his books, Mtileni can be contacted on WhatsApp at 079 658 6744 or 073 564 5999, by email at moseskhaizen@gmail.com, or through social media: @Dzumba Nhlulo on TikTok and @Nhlulo Dzumba on Facebook.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
6 hours ago
- The South African
Superstar Tyla surprises Mollwane Madiba at matric dance
Grammy Award-winning singer Tyla made a surprise appearance at Mollwane Madiba's matric dance, turning the event into a night no one will soon forget. Madiba, a Grade 12 learner, had launched a viral campaign months ago, inviting Tyla to be his date for the big night. Many doubted she would show up. Even Madiba himself admitted, 'I honestly thought it was a long shot. But I had to try. Tyla is an inspiration to us all.' The 5FM team, who had been supporting Madiba's campaign, presented him with a life-size cardboard cutout of Tyla, dressed in her iconic Jacquemus Met Gala look, according to IOL. Laughter filled the suite as Madiba posed with the cutout, saying, 'I guess this is as close as I'll get!' But the real magic was yet to come. As the night unfolded, Tyla herself walked in, holding Madiba's arm. Dressed in a sleek black gown, she instantly became the centre of attention. The crowd erupted. Phones flashed. Videos and photos flooded Instagram and TikTok within minutes. 'It was unreal,' said one student. 'We all screamed. No one could believe it was her.' The singer presence electrified the room. She joined Madiba on the dance floor, moving to her chart-topping hits. Students sang along, their voices echoing through the hall. Tyla later said, 'I couldn't miss this. Mollwane's determination touched me. South African youth have so much spirit.' The hashtag #moandtylaformd quickly trended on South African social media. Madiba's accounts exploded with messages of support and congratulations. 'You did it, bro!' read one comment. Another fan wrote, 'Tyla, you made history tonight!' The event was a celebration of dreams, community, and the power of social media. Tyla's appearance lifted everyone's spirits and gave Madiba a night he'll never forget. 'This is the best night of my life,' Madiba said, beaming. 'Tyla, thank you for making my dream come true.' The singer's willingness to honour a fan's request shows the strong connection between South African artists and their supporters. 'We are a nation that stands together,' Tyla shared. 'Tonight, we danced as one.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
7 hours ago
- The Citizen
Mobile solar cinema sparks magical moment for Nsikazi kids
Local children experienced a magical moment through Sunshine Cinema's Sunbox, a mobile solar cinema kit. The children of Elizabeth Mabena Care Centre were treated to a complimentary movie screening of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind via the Sunbox on Saturday, June 20. This initiative was facilitated by a local, Alfred Ngwenya (29), as a Spark Impact Ambassador of Sunshine Cinema. He said the Sunshine Cinema is a non-profit solar powered media network working through southern Africa to address youth unemployment. ALSO READ: Seven years of community service celebrated in Mbombela The organisation provided an entertaining experience for kids and locals who have never watched a film on a big screen. 'The kids connected with the film, which focused on social issues such as poverty, educational shortcomings and environmental degradation. The storyline also explores hunger, food shortages, and the impacts of drought and famine in a developing country,' said Alfred. Alfred said the initiative aims to involve community members and encourage dialogue, motivating individuals to arrange free screenings at gatherings such as youth camps, schools and religious events. Eunice Ngwenya of Elizabeth Mabena Care Centre said seeing the children's excitement when watching the movie was priceless. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga car spinner spins his way to global stage 'A cinema was brought to them, close to home so they would not have to travel to town, which is about 30km away. Some of their parents cannot event afford to take them to the cinema. It was a wonderful experience, especially with the choice of the film that they related to based on their everyday experiences,' said Eunice. Alfred said he also conducted a screening of the South African film called Five Fingers for Marseilles at Porchville Lodge in Pienaar on June 16, in commemoration Youth Day. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
8 hours ago
- The South African
Hoax letter sparks new drama in Kanye West, Kim K feud
A new twist has shaken the ongoing feud between Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. The rapper, now 47, claims that a cease-and-desist letter reportedly sent to Kim was nothing but a hoax. This revelation comes after reports suggested Kanye accused Kim of exploiting their four children and denying him access to them. On Friday, TMZ reported that Kanye had sent a legal letter to Kim, alleging she left their daughter North unattended in a car during the Met Gala. The letter also claimed Kim Kardashian ignored his objections to North's presence on TikTok and denied him meaningful access to their children—North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm. However, Kanye's spokesperson quickly dismissed the report. 'The letter is quite obviously fraudulent,' the representative told Page Six. 'TMZ didn't ask for comment before running the story, and this morning, they finally emailed us with second thoughts, asking if it had been a 'publicity stunt.' No. You fell for a hoax.' The letter, supposedly written by a lawyer named Kathy Johnson, raised eyebrows, according to Daily Mail. Johnson claimed to represent a Spanish law firm with jurisdiction in the United States. The listed phone number was out of service and previously belonged to a travel agency. Furthermore, there was no evidence of the law firm's existence in the US or Spain. The fake letter accused Kim of violating Kanye West's parental rights and their divorce settlement. It is alleged she left North alone in a vehicle at the Met Gala, continued to post images of their daughter on social media despite his objections, and restricted his access to their children. Yet, photos from January show Kanye with Saint, Chicago, and Psalm during a family trip to Japan, contradicting claims he hadn't seen Saint this year. Kim's side responded with concern. 'She's horrified,' a source told the Daily Mail. 'Like every time things get bad with Kanye, somehow they get worse.' Kim has now increased security and advised her family not to share information about her children's whereabouts online. The drama intensified with Kanye West's latest song, 'Heil Hitler (Hooligan Version),' released on VE Day, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. The song contains highly offensive lyrics and references to his custody battle with Kim. In it, Kanye raps, 'With all of my money and fame, I still don't get to see my children… So I became a Nazi, yeah, I'm the villain.' Kanye West also referenced his relationship with his wife, Bianca Censori, and continued to make inflammatory statements online. He has faced bans from social media platforms and criticism for his repeated praise of Adolf Hitler. His online store was even taken down after he tried to sell shirts featuring a swastika. The reported hoax highlights the importance of verifying information, especially in the age of viral news. The saga between Kanye West and Kim Kardashian continues, but this episode proves that not all headlines are what they seem. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
