TZANEEN: Pretty sweet love for the arts…

“If something is yours, you will never run away from it.”

Those are the words Pretty Ramahlako used to describe his love for Literature and Performing Arts.

Ramahlako is a 27 year old poet, author and publisher among a few titles, from Molelema Village in Bolobedu, whose talent at writing wasn’t clear to him at first but with the guidance from his English teacher in High School; he was able to turn his life around.

“I was still in high school when I started writing.

“In 2011, my English teacher approached me after having written several times for me to come and speak to him at the bottom of the essays I would submit.

“He then put me in contact with a publisher, whom a year later helped me publish my first anthology of poems titled ‘From the realm of the Rain Queen'”, explained Ramahlako.

He also went onto talk about how although something may be ones passion, there are challenges that one will encounter from time to time which he indicated that such can be used to better ones skills in doing what they love.

Ramahlako currently works as a Branch Manager for Fireside Theatre Productions which operates from the Mandela Barlow Agricultural High School, and has recently started his own publishing company called ‘Lentswe Media and Publishing’.

“I am all for giving back to the community and that is what inspires me the most.

“That is why when I started my company, I vowed that I would not do to these youngsters what was done to me about two years ago which in turn made me feel like giving up on writing,” exclaimed Ramahlako.

When asked about having a ‘9-5 job’ he simply stated that he lives and breathes Literature and Performing Arts, so that is how he makes a living for himself.

“It isn’t always easy, sometimes you don’t get booked and in such cases, I take it upon myself to approach local hot-spots to propose events just so I can get something done.

“Yet at the same time, I have come to realise that it is easier to work with a team or to collaborate with someone in order to have a bigger crowd and make a bigger impact on people,” said Ramahlako.

He told the LETABA HERALD that there is a small play production that he and his team are currently working on that was drawn from the untimely passing of his friend, Thoriso Themane.

Read: Tzaneen: Local artist pays a powerful tribute to #Thoriso – ‘Kwenze njani muntu’omnyama!’

The play is titled ‘The Gift of Understanding’ and it is said to address the lifestyles currently being lived out by the youth of South Africa.

With a team of seven people and a cast of 17, Ramahlako says that the play is well awaiting the final rehearsals that will be taking place within this week and soon after, the play will be ready to hit the stage for performance.

“I would like to encourage every young writer to not give up on their dreams simply because of their background, and if ever they encounter problems then they should not be afraid to speak up about it.

“We need more youth taking part in this industry and I am also someone who can aid young talent,” Ramahlako said in closing.