Security guard is a talented writer
Welome Jali recently took his passion for writing poetry and short stories a step further, by publishing his first book of poetry.
LOCAL security guard Welcome Jali has added another feather to his cap. Not only is he a top achiever at his company, Fidelity ADT, but he is also a published author.
Jali, who has worked as a security guard in Bemersyde Road, Berea, for more than 10 years, recently took his passion for writing poetry and short stories a step further, by publishing his first book of poetry, entitled Itunzi Lokufa.
The book, which is his pride and joy, contains 43 poems detailing how he sees South Africa and its people, and covers different aspects about life and philosophy, beautifully described in Zulu. Jali took the book’s cover photo of a river when visiting Cato Ridge, and paid for the full project himself.
Originally from Richmond, Jali started writing at school. He said although it was a challenge, his teachers saw he had a gift for writing and encouraged him to continue with his love for the written word.
After finishing school, he decided to try get a job rather than stay at home, and joined ADT in 2006. The company has given him six awards for his good work, and his clients in the road, who know him personally and know of his love for writing, have also encouraged him to continue with his hobby.
“I write in my free time. I go home, close the house and get busy writing. Ideas come to me all the time and I jot them down when I am working. I love to write and read. I think our generation is too lazy to read,” he said.
Welcome writes by hand in exercise books, and finds photos or pictures from newspapers or magazines on each topic to add to his poems or stories.
After taking a photo of a passing car which advertised a publishing business, Jali contacted the company, Macashisa Publishers (Pty) Ltd, to ask if they would consider publishing a book of his poems. He said the publisher dictated how many poems would be included in the book, and Welcome paid for the publishing with money he had saved up.
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“As I have been writing for many years, I had so many poems on different topics, anything from around the world, and in my poems I teach people things and advise people. I urge people not to do bad things, I write about security and about different things people like. My book aims to encourage the youth that if you want to write, you need to focus on this as a talent,” he said.
One of his clients in Bemersyde Road, Diane Broom, is a great supporter of his work and has helped him to try get his book into local schools.
“I met a woman at a function and was speaking to her about Welcome. She had contacts in the municipality and I was able to get hold of Thobela Ngidi from Libraries and Heritage. She met with Welcome and has shown interest in his book, and is talking about purchasing it to add to 94 school libraries, which is very exciting!” she said.
Jali has also written many short stories and said that the publishing of Itunzi Lokufa is just the first step.
“I will be publishing more books as I already have enough for a second book. I also have a lot of short stories which I can publish. I am just waiting to save enough money to do this,” he said.
Although he writes in Zulu, he said he was grateful to his clients in Bemersyde Road who have bought the book.
“I wish to translate my work into English and any other languages to make everyone satisfied,” he said.
To buy a copy of his book, contact him on 073 461 9957.
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