Prolific author Phathutshedzo Mamafha won a literary award during the AfriCAN Honoree Authors’ Awards ceremony held at the Mozambik Restaurant in Fourways, Johannesburg, on Saturday, 30 October. His book, titled Beyond All, which is a translation of his original Tshivenda novel, Murabeli, won in the Empowerment category.
The English translation was aimed at expanding the novel’s readership, with great success. “I am delighted to be one of the authors honoured by AfriCAN Honoree Authors’ Awards in my lifetime. It fuels authors’ zest to continue writing,” he said.
Beyond All is based on the author’s real-life experiences and tells the story of a young girl, named Chanda Makhado, whose mother died when she was still very young. She grows up in the care of her father and paternal grandmother. When her father brings home a new wife and her own two children – who are Chanda’s own age - she is at first happy that she now has a mother again, and siblings. But the mother turns out to be a monster and encourages her own children to abuse Chanda.
“Chanda cannot understand her painful situation; everywhere around her are families where there are new mothers or new fathers, where she sees unity, harmony and peace. This goes to show that, while there are bad stepparents, there are also good stepparents,” Mamafha explained.
Chanda faces many trials and tribulations. She devotes herself to God through the assistance of religious people around her, and that is how she manages to keep her focus. “In life, people come across different challenges indeed, which either make them stronger or more vulnerable. Whether it may be good or bad, we choose our battles,” said the author.
During the awards ceremony, writers were encouraged to keep on writing to add value and make the change that they want to see in Africa. They were told to write their own stories for the betterment of Africa.
Both Murabeli and Beyond All are published by Vhakololo Press in Louis Trichardt. In manuscript form, Murabeli was a finalist at the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature awards in 2017.
Mamafha can be followed on Facebook and contacted on Tel 072 103 6902.
