Emerging author Ndivhuwo Ndou from Tshidimbini village is using her writing to help keep the Tshivenda language alive. Her first drama book, Zwire fhasi ha Tombo, is written in what she calls "pure Tshivenda" — modern yet faithful to the language's roots.
Ndou said she was inspired to write in Tshivenda after realising how often English had replaced her mother tongue in daily life. "I noticed that our language is fading and getting swallowed up by the frequent use of English," she said. "It came as a shock to me that Tshivenda is melting away like hail, and so I decided to revive it through my writing."
She believes writers and poets have a crucial role to play in preserving languages by capturing idioms, expressions, and stories for future generations.
Ndou encourages young people to use their talents to uplift their communities and to develop a love for reading. "If you don't read, you are robbing yourself of the many delights found in books, magazines and newspapers," she said.
For Ndou, success comes from passion and perseverance rather than background or location. "It's important to use our skills while we are still young because that is the foundation for our future," she said. "I want to prove that success does not depend on whether one comes from a rural area, but on one's ability to use the resources available."