10-year-old pupil tackles being bullied by writing her first novel
Young Nana further inspired to tell her story after tragic suicide of Limpopo schoolgirl
They poked me several times because I am too black. I have been called names on several occasions like blackie, ‘gregamba’
Putting her experiences of racial bullying and discrimination into words, 10-year-old Nana Adwoa-baah Mantyi has written her first book and hopes to see it in bookstores soon.
The Amalinda-based Lukhanyo Primary School pupil’s book, It is Black on the Form details her experiences as a darker-skinned South African girl.
Born to South African and Ghanaian parents, Nana said she had been teased for much of her life because of her dark complexion.
“I was born here and I can speak Xhosa and English, but because of the colour of my skin, I’ve been teased a lot at school.
“I think from when I was six or seven I was teased,” said Nana, who has lived in the Eastern Cape her whole life.
The softly-spoken Grade 5 pupil said the book was sparked by her own experiences.
She began writing in March, and was inspired to continue putting her own story to paper after learning about 15-year-old Limpopo schoolgirl Lufuno Mavhunga in the media in April.
Mavhunga was assaulted and bullied by a fellow pupil and subsequently took her own life.
“The book is about my own experiences, but when I heard about what happened to Lufuno and how she was bullied it also inspired me,” said Nana, who finished writing her book in late April.
Faced with ridicule, namecalling, stares, laughs and pointed fingers from peers, community members and elders, Nana shares her innermost thoughts and reflects on how people have treated her.
From encounters with girls her age at school to being accosted and laughed at on her way to school, Nana shares what it is like to be in her shoes.
The young writer’s sentences can take a winding route to get to the point, much like many children who tell stories or recount what has happened to them during their day.
But what is striking about It is Black on the Form is its authenticity.
Without reservation Nana tells us how she feels; how she has often feared others and what they might do to her because of her dark complexion.
The book begins with Nana sharing the many names she has been called.
But still, from the outset she embraces who she is and shares that she is still proud of her identity.
Throughout the book, Nana revisits the idea of official forms and how the box she ticks is the same box that others do.
In It is Black on the Form Nana writes: “They poked me several times because I am too black. I have been called names on several occasions like blackie, gregamba, amatshangane ... but I am proud to be black because it is black on the form, not yellow bone.”
Readers are privy to the thoughts, feelings and touching insights of a 10-year-old who tells us that what frightens her most are not fantastical monsters lurking in her nightmares, but people — like you and me — and their prejudice.
Nana’s school principal, Bukelwa Sitole, said the school was very proud and excited to have a little author among its pupils.
“It’s so exciting. We ’ re overwhelmed. I don’t even have the words,” said Sitole, who has been Lukhanyo Primary School principal since 2010.
“It came as such a surprise to us, too.
“We had no idea she was working on a book until her dad contacted us to tell us about it a few weeks ago.
“She’s brilliant to write a book such as this one at her age,” Sitole said.
Not wanting the book to be too expensive for her peers to purchase, Nana is self-publishing her story through Bloemfontein-based publisher Pauls’ Literary Publication.
Owner Paul Modupe said Nana’s book was in the process of being published, and the cover design and layout were being done.
Nana, who wrote the book on her own, said her father had helped her through parts of the process. “My dad read through the book and helped me find a publisher,” she said.
Nana said she hoped her story would inspire people to treat each other with kindness.
“I want the book to show people that they need to stop teasing others because of the colour of their skin,” said Nana, who hopes to pursue a career as a novelist one day.
“I’m very excited to have my own book and I hope it will be in book stores. I’d like to be a writer one day.”
For more information or a copy of Nana’s book, contact her grandmother, Zikhona Mantyi, on 073-506-4069.