Local author Oscar Sadiki, from Mbhokota village near Elim, recently published two books: Come Home to Comfort and I Am a Woman of Virtue.
Come Home to Comfort is a poetry collection offering lessons on motivation and encouragement, aimed at strengthening individuals who may be losing hope. I Am a Woman of Virtue is a study booklet primarily intended for women, including those in leadership roles within the church, home, workplace, and community. It also serves as a guide for single and young women aspiring to marriage and family life.
Sadiki studied for a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Venda, which led him to a university education diploma in teaching. Beyond writing, he is a dedicated remedial teacher passionate about assisting children facing challenges in reading, writing, spelling, and mathematics. He also serves as the organiser of the Christian Inter-Youth Fellowship in the Elim-Hlanganani area, focusing on the spiritual, social, emotional, and educational development of young people.
His poems explore themes of personal struggle and resilience, portraying characters who have faced setbacks in life, relationships, and business yet rise to reclaim what they lost.
"My poems will take readers from despair to hopefulness, aiming to change people's attitudes from negative to positive. Some poems feature characters who failed in life, relationships, marriage, and business but rose to reclaim what they lost," he said.
Sadiki added that his poems could be read for both amusement and inspiration. Regarding I Am a Woman of Virtue, he said the book aimed to highlight the crucial role women played in society. "I wrote it from a Christian perspective and included Bible scriptures," he said.