LIMPOPO – Muanalo Gloria Demana is proud to release her book, Hidden Afflictions, which discusses the socio-economic challenges many South Africans face on a daily basis.
Demana hails from Vhufuli outside Thohoyandou and said her passion for storytelling drove her to write this novel, wherein she addresses issues such as family dynamics, mental health, drug abuse and human trafficking, among others.
“The storyline is packed with a lot of details that will captivate the reader. I carefully curated research and storytelling into a masterpiece that is aimed to teach lessons and to entertain. The book should ideally be read by young adults who are on a path of finding themselves. I use real-life examples of the things happening in modern day South Africa to bring my point accross,” said Demana.
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She said she had a good upbringing from her late parents and only started to write last year.
“It’s awesome because I have always wanted to be a storyteller. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I know that I’m just getting started. Everyday events in our communities, households and the world at large motivates me to write books and raise awareness about the important events in our society,” she said.
She told CV that her late father, Dr Itani Patrick Demana, and actor John Kani were good storytellers and motivated her to become a storyteller as well.
“Writing has always been a safe space for me to be heard. I get to express my feelings and tell others what I encountered in this life. When I’m not feeling creative and notice that I am not writing as frequently as I should, I just tell myself that I am capable of anything, ” she explained.
She added her secret for success is to never give up and she believes one speaks the loudest through writing. Demana also holds a BA degree in International Relations from the University of Venda.
