Othusitse Moses Lobelo (photo: provided)
Hi Othusitse! Congratulations on being shortlisted for the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature. Please would you tell me how your story was born?
The rise of fake churches and pastors is a concern in our communities across South Africa, so I realised that something must be done about this. Drug dealers and human traffickers are using the name of God and our churches to destroy the nations. So, I used this story to warn fellow Africans about false prophecy.
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Drug dealers and human traffickers are using the name of God and our churches to destroy the nations. So, I used this story to warn fellow Africans about false prophecy.
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Where did you get the idea for this story, and would you tell me about your characters?
I did some research and visited some of these churches. I noticed that our youth are used in wrong manners by paedophiles and sick pastors in these churches. My characters are innocent school youth who are dreaming about better futures and about success, but they end up being trafficked to the other side of the world by cruel and heartless fake pastors for human trafficking, organ trafficking and use as sex slaves. My characters are mostly youth (girls mostly), because they’re most vulnerable and blinded by evil powers.
For which age group did you intend your story?
The ideal readers are youth between the ages of 15 and 18 (mainly pupils), but it is not limited to them. It may be appreciated by someone older than that who enjoys action and fast-paced dramatic elements of suspense, watches movies and television shows and listens to radio dramas.
Why did you specifically write a book for people of this age group?
Youth are the eyes of the future, so we should see the world through the eyes of a child. If we don’t teach them on time and show them the right path for the future, we’re going to have a doomed society in the years to come.
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Youth are the eyes of the future, so we should see the world through the eyes of a child. If we don’t teach them on time and show them the right path for the future, we’re going to have a doomed society in the years to come.
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Which part of writing this story for these people did you enjoy most?
The arrest of drug lord Maestro and his concubine, Lady Joy, on the Merry Berry islet. This brought a lot of relief to me, because this rang the bell, and poor communities back home were saved from these devils. Sis B (the ex-soldier) did a good job by investigating all the criminal activities discreetly on her own before the arrest.
There are plenty of English books published for young people – why write a book for young people in their home language?
We have historically disadvantaged youth in our communities who cannot read and write in English, so writing in indigenous languages is the only way to pass messages on to them. Besides, our youth in schools cannot read only about love and witchcraft from those old books written by old authors. We must start passing fresh information on to them by writing about the problems and concerns of today.
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Besides, our youth in schools cannot read only about love and witchcraft from those old books written by old authors. We must start passing fresh information on to them by writing about the problems and concerns of today.
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How did the pandemic influence your writing and themes of writing, if at all?
This book was written before the pandemic, but generally I would say at the moment that I’m busy working on many projects that were influenced by the pandemic. It’s so challenging and good to write about the concerns we’re facing now.
How did COVID-19 influence your own life personally?
It was so hard for me to accept the quarantine and social distancing thing in the first place because of the nature of the job I do. But, at last, I ended up giving up and started doing what is best for me – writing about what we’re all facing today – COVID-19.
Also read:
Sanlamprys vir Jeuglektuur-kortlys 2021: ’n onderhoud met Ihette Senekal
Sanlamprys vir Jeuglektuur-kortlys 2021: ’n onderhoud met Faeed Amardien
2021 Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature shortlist: an interview with Jaco Fouché
2021 Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature shortlist: an interview with Francis Tebesi
2021 Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature shortlist: an interview with Penny Lorimer