Catching up with Lebohang Masango

by Kwanele Mathebula
Catching up with Lebohang Masango

We catch up with the award-winning author of Mpumi’s Magic Beads, Lebohang Masango, to find out what she has been up to. By Fundiswa Nkwanyana

I’m grateful to have received the best writer award at the IBBY SA awards. It’s an honour to be recognised by the Exclusive Books International Board for Books on Young People because they specialise in children’s literature. For them to decide that my story is exceptional enough for an award makes me very happy. There are many amazing children’s books produced in our country, so being awarded for Mpumi’s Magic Beads, which is my debut book, feels very special.

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My life has changed since the publishing of my book. I’ve been appointed as the UNICEF volunteer program ambassador, and had the opportunity to meet many little readers across the country. I enjoy sharing this magical story with them, and hope it will encourage them to read more. It’s also been incredible to hear feedback from parents and caregivers about how the book is a staple for story time in their homes.

 

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Join us next week for @noksangoma’s talk #GogoSpeaks “Purpose and Prosperity”. It’s the 4th in the annual GogoSpeaks series. The talk will give practical tools and guidance to those who wish to maximise their potential, soothe internal anxieties, and participate in positive and progressive ways in their lives, relationships and communities. A central focus of the talk is thriving in and with love – self love, community love and romantic love. In GogoSpeaks, Sangoma, Mother, Wife Nokulinda Mkhize shares her knowledge and experience of indigenous healing practices in a modern, urban context. The series GogoSpeaks focuses on working with intergenerational trauma and decolonising ideas around healing and indigenous spiritual beliefs. . I’ll be your host ?? Tickets are R300 from noksangoma.com.

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I’m excited host the 4th annual GogoSpeaks series. I’ll be hosting this event alongside Nokulinda Mkhize, popularly known as Noksangoma, who is a sangoma and a good friend of mine. She has a wealth of indigenous healing knowledge, and I’ve grown and gained so much from her advice and wisdom. I think it’s great that she has a platform from which more you can access that as well. I urge you to attend so you can learn about intergenerational trauma and decolonising ideas around healing and indigenous spiritual beliefs.

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A follow up to Mpumi’s Magic Beads is underway. I can’t reveal too much, but you can look out for it from the first half of 2020.

Catch me at GogoSpeaks at UJ Theatre, Kingsway Campus in Auckland Park, Johannesburg on Sunday 24 November. Tickets are R300 here and at the door.