NTHIKENG MOHLELE ON ILLUMINATION, LOVE AND MUSIC

I have a curious, imaginative, introverted and creative

personality — that’s why I love stories and history. I believe that literature requires new writers and voices to tackle the complexities of our past, present and envisaged future.

I write everywhere — even in noisy spaces. All I need is in my head, so the ideal place is not a physical space, but an alignment of mind and soul, with a touch of heightened instincts.

I don’t believe writers should prescribe how their work must be read or interpreted. Reading is a highly subjective and personal experience — more so because our social and artistic instincts are vastly different. I trust readers to own the text in accordance with their personal belief systems. I know I’m done writing when the sentences sing to me. When there’s nothing else to add or subtract, the story achieves a perfect equilibrium.

Bantubonke, the main character in Illumination, is a composite of multiple personalities. Intellectually, he is a combination of James Baldwin, and fragments of the late Professor Keorapetse Kgositsile, because the Prof and I spoke a lot about literature and music. Bantu Biko was also an important political reference point for the book. I enjoy music, motion pictures and cooking when I’m not writing. I also enjoy driving on long open roads.

If my life was a song, the title would be…Perfect Light. – SL