Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe,Zimpapers Writer
Veteran writer and literary matriarch Barbara Clara Makhalisa Nkala has called for an urgent revival of the reading culture in Zimbabwe, particularly in indigenous languages, which she described as a vital pillar of the nation’s heritage.
Speaking to Zimpapers Entertainment Hub on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe International Book Fair on Friday in Bulawayo, Makhalisa underscored the role of parents in cultivating a love for reading among children from an early age.
“There is an urgent need to revive reading culture, especially on indigenous languages as that is an integral part of national heritage,” said Makhalisa.
She appealed to families to make indigenous literature a priority in the home.
“Parents should encourage their children to read at an early stage. The reading culture begins at the household level,” she said.
Makhalisa, a former board member of the Zimbabwe International Book Fair, recalled how efforts to encourage reading were often met with resistance.
“I once served in the Zimbabwe International Book Fair board and I recall on three occasions encouraging reading culture, it was a struggle,” she said.
“During the Christmas period, parents tend to prioritise buying toys at the expense of books to read,” she added.
As part of her personal efforts to promote literacy and cultural pride, Makhalisa has initiated reading competitions aimed at fostering appreciation of indigenous languages.
“As part of my efforts is to have reading competitions so that people appreciate their indigenous languages,” she said.
Makhalisa is best known for her literary contributions in Ndebele, with notable titles such as Qilindini, Impilo Yinkinga, and UJojojo kaMantombi. Her most acclaimed work, Umendo, published by Mambo Press in the late 1970s, remains a classic in Zimbabwean literature.
Her latest offering is titled Gqubula, which she said she wrote within three months.
