Reach for the African sky
BOOK SMART: Second-year student Bhaso Ndzendze reads a verse of his newly
published book Africa: The Continent We Construct. Photo: Ilanit Chernick
Bhaso Ndzendze is not your average 19-year-old.
The second year BA student already has a book professionally published. His book Africa: The Continent We Construct looks at how Africa attempts to define herself too much by comparing herself with the rest of the world.
Ndzendze wrote this book for the same reason “silkworms make silks” meaning that it is his “responsibility as an individual” to understand and make sense of the environment “in which we function” and be productive in it.
“As Africans we are still finding our feet,” he said.
The youngest of four brothers, Ndzendze grew up in both parts of KwaZulu-Natal and parts of the Eastern Cape and finally settled in Johannesburg when he was 16.
“My parents moved around a lot for work related reasons so when they moved we moved with them.”
He describes his upbringing to be one of “pious Catholicism”.
Ndzendze who is currently studying psychology, politics and international relations at Wits hopes to be a journalist one day.
“If that doesn’t work out than I hope to be involved in public service. I want to get involved with charity organisations like UNICEF and the World Health Organisation to help make life easier for Africans.”
When Ndzendze is not writing books, he enjoys reading, writing poetry computer programming, listening to music and visiting museums and art galleries.
His vision for Africa is one that does not aim to settle its predecessors “score” but rather focuses on fighting for its’ children and its future.
“We should not be focusing on what we want and what was done to us, we should focus on what needs to be done,” he said.
Ndzendze has a strong message for Witsies and hopes they will “embrace equality and contribute for the betterment of our society”.
“Whatever you are doing, you should always act in a way where no harm will come from it.”
