She's an inspiration to teenagers in her village. After all, it's not every day that a 16-year-old girl from the rural villages of Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo publishes their own piece of literature.
Masindi Managa (16) is proud to be an exception.
Growing up collecting water from the Tshamurenzhele Fountain, she thought writing a book seemed far-fetched.
That was until a few years ago when she dreamt of writing a children’s book to educate young people on the different types of abuse.
“Abuse comes in many different forms, mental, emotional, financial and other,” Masindi says.
“With the increasing number of depression and suicide cases amongst young people, I wanted to teach my peers in a fun and exciting way about the different types of abuse.”
Read more l 7 fiction books by African female writers you need to read right now
Her book, Ardour is a collection of poems tackling abuse in its many different forms; domestic violence, sexual assault, verbal abuse and address issues of crime, love, the end times, disease, trust and betrayal, death, and life and living, fear, hope, faith and the COVID-19 pandemic which recently changed so many people’s lives.
“I wanted the book to be pretty, easy to read but also educational and inspiring for young people to want to read,” Masindi says.
She wrote the poems with the assistance of her family and teachers, but all the creativity ad hard work was all her doing.
“As young people, we are faced with many challenges and it's important for us to talk about things that affect us and we see in our society,” Masindi says.
In the poem ‘I Miss the Days' Masindi writes, “Life was much simpler when we were kids, frolicking in the rain and marvelling at the appearance of a rainbow.”
“These days, children have adult responsibilities that it is a challenge to enjoy the little things in life,” Masindi tells us.
Just like many teenagers her age, she misses being a child.
"Our peers are becoming depressed and suicidal, sometimes because of issues they cannot address. I want my book to make them feel like they are not alone, abandoned and that someone out there is facing something similar."
Read more l From the archives | Local dancer who lost his leg to bone cancer dances to his own tune
Born in Thembaluvhilo, Makula Village, she lives in Louis Trichardt where she is a Grade 11 pupil at LIT Murunwa School of Excellence. Masindi is the second-born daughter of Mbulaheni Daniel Managa and Khakhu Mugeri Managa and after high school wishes to study actuarial science.
“My dreams go far beyond my community, but with my knowledge and gift of writing poems and short stories, I want to help those who are in abusive situations,” Masindi says.
But she feels being a teenager these days comes with some responsibilities.
“The rainbow nation which has come with hope has its challenges. There is drug, alcohol abuse, the kidnapping of children and we are not safe. I want my poetry to reflect our times and help teach young people to make a better choice.”
The young and full of wisdom Masindi says, “Ardour is clear proof that parents should always look out for the aptitudes in their children and support that. Most parents discourage their children from fully reaching their actualisation in art or sports when they are still pupils because they think that that might derail them from the routes of formal education which should lead them to actual careers.”
