adminMbekezeli Ncube, Sunday News Reporter
YOUNG Bulawayo-based author-cum-poet, Vincent “Kryptonite” Khumalo is launching his book, My escape: The Untold Century on 27 January.
The 20-year-old poet said his book is based on true events that happen in our day to day lives.
“I was motivated by the stories I heard from people who were raped and how the society regards them as social misfits and failures. I also was motivated by my personal experiences in life that I come across and then I used them as a tool to educate and touch hearts,” he said.
Khumalo’s book is made up of 21 poems written by a man who “sat for too long in the comfort zone and later decided to escape from his comfort so as to be a voice to the voiceless”.
“This book has a mandate to mirror back the society to a time when we were all united and protected each other. It’s a book that is so much under mixed emotions or rather it’s a book that is so much under emotional criticism and emotional trauma,” he said.
Khumalo is a former member of the Bulawayo Junior Council and part of the Public Speaking and Debate club during his Advanced Level Education at Inyanda High School in Gwabalanda last year, he is also a Public Relations Officer at a Charity Organisation based in the City of Kings.
Kryptonite as he is known in the world of poetry performed at last year’s Intwasa Extra Festival on 30 December. He has written numerous poems for online magazines like Lounge263 and Mastermind. In 2012, on the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting, he appeared on television as a presenter of Game On, a sports show which was aired on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. My Escape: The Untold Century will be launched among other books written by young authors in Bulawayo. These include The voice by Xesha Khumalo, When tears speak penned by Thabitha Moyo, Lesedi Nkomo’s Feelings from deep within, Spirit filling and how your spirit is filled written by Keith Vilani while Vongai Majakacha and Ntombizile Ncube will launch their book entitled Choices we make and other stories.
“To all young authors like me, we are young and we are the very greatness the world has been waiting for. Never settle for anything less. We are the future of tomorrow and it starts now. If I made it any young author out there can do the same, just believe in yourself and continue writing. Faith is the key and our words are the doors. So let’s use the key to open the doors to greatness,” Khumalo said.
Tickets are available for $2 in advance and $5 at the gate. The book will cost $5, same price as When tears speak, Feeling from deep within and Spirit Filling and how your spirit is filled.
The Voice will be priced at $7 and Choices we make and other stories will settle for $10.
He also said that he’s working on his second book The Pshychic ward and other poems which is going to be released later this year.
Online Reporter