My Journey as a First-Time African Author

I was just 16 years old, sitting in my Grade 10 classroom in South Africa, when I first discovered the thrill of writing. It wasn’t something I planned. It wasn’t something anyone told me to do. It was just me, a notebook, and a wild idea that came to life with ink and imagination.

That idea turned into my very first story—The Killing Hand.

It was a horror fiction tale about a pregnant woman who encounters a strange homeless man at a red robot (traffic light). When she refuses to give him money, cursing him out, the man suddenly transforms into a demon. Time freezes. The city halts. And everything spirals into supernatural chaos. The woman ends up in hospital, fully dilated, but unable to give birth. Power goes out citywide. Even the backup generators fail. Why? Because a demon is being born in human flesh—and it demands to be born in pure darkness.

Looking back, I don’t even know what inspired such a dark and thrilling story. I was just a kid exploring the depths of my imagination. When I showed the story to my parents, siblings, and classmates, I was shocked by their reactions. They loved it. Yes, the English was shaky and the grammar far from perfect—but they could all see the story. They could feel it.

And that was the beginning.

The Unpublished Years

After The Killing Hand, my classmates started asking me, “Are you writing another one?” I wasn’t thinking about becoming an author or getting published. I just enjoyed writing. I loved escaping into stories, exploring themes of mystery, fear, love, and conflict—all through the lens of fiction.

I went on to write more stories—dozens of them. I still have many of them safely stored at home. But back then, publishing never crossed my mind. I wasn’t doing it for money or fame. I was doing it to express myself, to share my thoughts, my wildest dreams, and my deepest emotions through the written word.

A Shift Toward Truth

As I grew older, something began to shift. I started looking at the world differently. I looked around me and saw powerful stories unfolding every day—real African stories. I began to wonder: Why are these stories not being told? Why are our truths being ignored, watered down, or rewritten by others?

That’s when it hit me.

Why not write real African stories with meaning? Why not give our people a voice that the world can hear, unfiltered and uncensored?

This shift changed everything. I was no longer content with writing fiction alone. I wanted to dive into narratives that reflected the true African experience—the struggles, the victories, the traditions, the culture, and the truth. Not the Westernized version. Not the edited one. The raw, emotional, and deeply African truth.

The Birth of James-Bonginkosi

A few years ago, while I was in Malawi, I had a life-changing conversation with a friend. She shared a deeply personal family story with me. It was heartbreaking, inspiring, raw, and unfiltered. But above all, it was real—100% African.

That story planted a seed in me. It became the inspiration for my first nonfiction narrative: James-Bonginkosi.

This was more than a book—it was a mission. Writing James-Bonginkosi made me fall in love with the power of true storytelling. It opened my eyes to the publishing world. And I began to realize that these kinds of stories need to be read, shared, and passed down.

Why? Because they teach us. They heal us. They remind us who we are.

From Fiction to Purpose

Writing James-Bonginkosi reignited something in me. It reminded me of that 14-year-old girl who used to stay up late scribbling ideas into old exercise books. But this time, I wasn’t writing for fun. I was writing for impact.

For the first time in my life, I believed: My stories deserve to be published.

More importantly, our stories deserve to be published. African stories. True stories. Stories from the streets of Harare, the villages of Gokwe, the townships of Johannesburg, the shores of Lake Malawi. Stories that don’t make headlines but shape lives. Stories that carry our history, our pain, our joy, and our resilience.

My Mission Today

Today, I proudly call myself a nonfiction African author and storyteller. My work centers around reclaiming the African narrative—telling stories without censorship, without filters, and without apology.

I don’t just write for the sake of writing. I write to inspire, to empower, and to ignite conversations about African identity, cultural pride, and generational truth.

My upcoming book James-Bonginkosi is just the beginning. It’s a story that will make you cry, reflect, and celebrate the spirit of survival. It will remind you of the strength we carry as Africans. And once you start reading, I promise—you won’t be able to put it down.

What Lies Ahead

As I prepare to publish my debut nonfiction book, I carry with me years of unpublished stories, pages filled with passion, and a heart full of purpose. I’ve come a long way from that Grade 10 classroom. And the journey is only beginning.

Final Thoughts

Being a first-time African author isn’t easy. There are doubts. There are fears. But above all, there is purpose. And that’s what keeps me going.

James-Bonginkosi will soon be published—and I cannot wait to share it with the world. This story is not just for entertainment. It’s a reflection of life, of love, of legacy. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.