Getting to know the House of Truth author, Siphiwo Mahala
Grahamstown-born Siphiwo Mahala returned home for the premiere of House Of Truth, at the National Arts Festival, based on the life of journalist Can Themba. spoke to him about his writing, and working with Sello Maake ka Ncube.
When did the love for writing begin?
My love of writing is born out of my love for reading, a practice that I began from n early age. My father was a general worker at DSG and used to bring home some books. I used to enjoy this because we had no TV at home so books became my reliable companions.
How many books have you written?
I am the author of two books, my debut novel When a Man Cries (2007) and my short story collection African Delights (2011), whose first section is dedicated to Can Themba. In 2010 I translated When a Man Cries into isiXhosa as Yakhal’ Indoda.
African Delights was published in Nigeria in 2014 and in January this year it was listed by The Guardian newspaper in the UK as one of the top 10 must-read books in the world. Both books have been prescribed texts in various universities locally and interna-
tionally.
Which time of the day are you most productive?
I am most productive in the early hours of the morning. I usually get up at 3am to write. I like the tranquillity at that time. I feel most liberated when I write. I regard writing as the best form of self-expression
Who do you look up to?
There is no particular individual that I can say I idolise. I look up to many individuals who are striving to make a difference in life. You find these people in all walks of life.
How does it feel to work with a veteran like Sello Maake ka-Ncube and how did the relationship come about?
Working with Bra Sello was a wonderful experience. I have never worked with someone as dedicated as he is.
For the largest part he was shooting for two films, Scan-
dal and Rockville and he would still come for rehearsals in the evening. With that amount of dedication I knew the show was going to be a resounding success.
Bra Sello acted in the first adaptation of Can Themba’s classic short story The Suit, and won the 1994 DALRO Best Actor Award for his role.
Naturally, I consulted him when I decided to write something on Themba.
I was hoping that he would at least bother to read the script and offer advice since I’m a novice playwright.
I almost fell on my back with pleasant shock when he said he liked it and he wanted to act in the play.
What are you working on at the moment?
I work for the Department of Arts and Culture full time and I am pursuing my doctoral studies. I’m a husband and a father. I write whenever possible. I’m busy with all these things and have no luxury of time to do anything that is not
Mahala says he’s happy that he finally staged his own show at the National Arts Festival after years of just being part of an audience.
He was born and bred in Grahamstown. He graduated from Fort Hare University with a BA in Literature and Creative Writing and he holds a Masters degree in African Literature from Wits University and Certificates in Creative Writing from Rhodes University.
He lives in Pretoria with his family.
His work includes Nobody Ever Said AIDS: Poems and Stories from Southern Africa (2002) and A is for Ancestors: Stories from the Caine Prize (2004).
He received the Ernst van Heerden Creative Writing Award for his novel, When a Man Cries.