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Botswana Based Writer Wame Molefhe Speaks About Her Love for Literature
Wame Molefhe is a full time writer who freelances for a number of publications and writes TV documentaries and dramas, travel articles and radio jingles. Just Once, her children’s collection of short stories, was published in 2009. Her second short story collection, Go Tell the Sun, will be published later this month. She lives in Gaborone, Botswana.
What motivates you to read?
When I was much younger, I read because it provided a way for me to discover things for myself. Whenever I didn’t know the meaning of the word, I was told, “Look it up” and “You must read.” That was long before the advent of the internet, so looking it up meant getting the dictionary out and reading meant reading a book. Nowadays, reading is a stimulus for my writing and it is the ultimate indulgence. I do not need another person to read. I can be surrounded by people and noise, but disappear into the world created by the words I am reading. I also read to show children that there is an alternative to TV.What sort of books do you enjoy reading?
It depends on my mood. If I am writing non-fiction and battling tight deadlines, I will usually read a short story that I can finish in one sitting. If I am not so busy, I will read a novel and if it is one I enjoy, I will try and make it last. Nowadays, I actively seek out writing by contemporary African women writers: Chimamanda Adichie, Henrietta Rose-Innes and Doreen Baingana. I am also exploring the world of poetry and always thrilled to discover a poem whose words and rhythm stay with me after I’ve read the last word. I like poetry from Gabeba Baderoon and A Thousand Silences by Lebo Mashile. I think writing has also brought consciousness of unavailability of writing from African writers.
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March 23, 2011, 10:28 am
Nonikiwe - Editor is reading Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua
March 12, 2011, 10:28 pm
lamoesther on Nigerians Shocked at NECO Examination's 2% Pass RateI will rather look at the bigger picture of the [...]
March 3, 2011, 1:19 pm
Chelsea is reading Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
February 8, 2011, 8:00 am
Chelsea is reading An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro
December 29, 2010, 2:30 pm
paulineblah on Bontle is reading Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman CapoteHii ( paulineblah@yahoo.in ) I saw your profile today and became [...]
December 29, 2010, 2:29 pm
paulineblah on Nonikiwe - Editor is reading The Seed Children by Bontekanye BotumileHii ( paulineblah@yahoo.in ) I saw your profile today and became [...]
October 27, 2010, 11:46 am
Nonikiwe - Editor is reading The Seed Children by Bontekanye Botumile
September 8, 2010, 11:29 am
Bontle is reading Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
August 27, 2010, 3:31 pm
Coin is reading 1984 by George Orwell
August 27, 2010, 3:21 pm
Coin on Bontle is reading A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee WilliamsHow did you find it?
