Local author, Keabetswe Molosi is one of the lucky ones after her book titled, Matlhalerwa, won an award in Kenya.
The book, which contains short stories, won the 2023 Kendeka Prize for African literature.
The awards were established by renowned Kenyan writer, Andrew Maina and they are open to all African writers. In an interview with Arts&Culture, Molosi said she was shortlisted following a call for submission last year. “The list was finalised on September 19, 2023, followed by the shortlist at the end of the month,” Molosi said.
She stated that the award ceremony took place in Taika, Kenya, adding that she attended it virtually. “This is my first literature award and an international one at that, so you can imagine how incredible that feels. I was so honoured to learn that I was the only Motswana short-listed for the prize. That alone was unbelievably reaffirming and was enough for me.
Beyond that, it is so encouraging for a writer to hear that other people like their work. It was also the encouragement I needed to continue working on my next project,” she proudly stated. Furthermore, Molosi pointed out that the setting of the story, which is the cattle post was the main inspiration behind the book. She explained that growing up, she took trips to the cattle post or even masimo (the fields) frequently which she believed many people could relate to. Even though the story is completely fictional, she said some of the characters were based on real people and their experiences.
This contemporary African fiction has strong undertones of mystery and tragedy. Molosi, however, emphasised that she was obsessed with the descriptions of the setting and characters. She further described herself as a visual person. “Initially, I wrote this story for people who read the way I do; those who want to read relatable fiction that is just written really well.
The feedback has been incredible. Apart from friends and family, the judges’ panel, the editor and a couple of journalists in Kenya gave really encouraging feedback. They genuinely loved the story,” she said. However, she pointed out that writing this story was not a walk in the park as she faced a few hurdles along the way.
She added that one of those challenges included trying to write the middle of the story when she had the ending already scribbled at the back of an old notebook before finishing the story. Molosi explained that she started writing at the tender age of nine and has never looked back. Matlhalerwa has over 3,000 words and 11 pages.
This fiction author said she writes everything from poetry, short stories to full-length novels and countless unfinished stories. Even though she wrote several stories, she said Matlhalerwa was her first published work. However, she said she had a poetry collection that she was self-publishing. She also said she hoped to launch the finished product this year if she could get adequate funding. “In the next few years, I would love to write full-time. I know I should say that I want to win more awards and write a best seller because it would be amazing. In the near future, I would like to publish an anthology of short stories and even full-length novels. I have so many ideas. My favourite part is the ending, of course. I think it really cements the metaphor in the title and will make people want to reflect on the story and even read it again,” she explained.
Molosi is a full-time teacher, a job she has done for the past eight years. Apart from being an author, Molosi says she is also into painting. Her book is available on the Brittle Paper website. She added that she will be launching her poetry book, Lessons and letters, which will be published at the end of the year.
