MBOMBELA – It all began in 2014 in Ligwalagwala FM’s corridors when colleagues, Mss Mpumi Mbethe and Bobo Lukhele discovered they shared a passion for reading and writing.
A book club was the first thing that came to mind to help them give back to the children, specifically from the rural areas in Mpumalanga.
Lukhele says the aim was to instil the culture of reading within rural communities and townships. “Instead of dining in restaurants and discussing books, we decided to start Book Hive, to not only encourage reading, but to also celebrate African authors and literature,” she says.
What distinguishes this book club from others? “It aims to make reading cool for kids, especially in the early stages of childhood development, achieving this through libraries, pop-up stores at lifestyle and art events and hosting authors,” she explains.
This initiative of collecting books from local and national authors started with a big group of young women, but due to much commitment, the club thrives through the illustrious efforts of both Lukhele and Mbethe. They recently hosted renowned author, Dudu Busani at the Casambo Guest Lodge during their monthly jam sessions.
The club, as part of its initiative, collects a variety of books to donate to underprivileged communities. “We also host read-aloud sessions for children and there is so much more we can do to make reading fun for all,” Lukhele concludes. To find more details on Book Hive’s sessions, log on to their Facebook page: Book Hive.
