Writing as affirmation
Eastern Cape-born Lidumalingani Mqombothi was awarded the 2016 Caine Prize for African Writing for his short story published in He speaks to
A: I am not interested in a single topic but in all of them.
What was the topic of the first story you ever wrote – published or not (and how old were you at the time)?
A: I do not recall. I've been writing, in various forms, be it a journal, a poem, since I was 19. I only started writing fiction about two or three years ago.
What is your favourite book (not by you)? Are you interested in fiction or non-fiction?
A: Too many books to choose one favourite. I do not have a single one. It is unfair on the books that I love equally. I write, always have, written both fiction and non-fiction.
What are your hobbies?
A: I do not have the leisure time to have hobbies. All my time has been taken up.
What are your future plans?
A: To one day, when I am a lot older, fly to the moon.
How do you relax?
A: By doing nothing.
Anything else you would like to tell us?
A: Not particularly, people already know way more than I would like them to.