Quoting Khaya Dlanga
WESTCLIFF - INFLUENTIAL social media personality Khaya Dlanga has released his autobiography.
At his book launch of To Quote Myself, A Memoir, Dlanga was interviewed by fellow author and social media lawyer Emma Sadleir.
In a candid and in-depth conversation, Sadleir discussed with Dlanga poignant moments and events mentioned in the book such as his early childhood years in the rural Transkei, and the time he bluffed his way into being accepted into advertising school. His characterisation of his mother as a independent woman with a lot of gumption who ardently encouraged his education was also focused on.
Sadleir drew attention to an excerpt in Dlanga’s book when in his childhood during apartheid his mother lay bleeding and injured on a beach after hitting her head on a rock. Despite his cries for help he was persistently ignored by several white passersby.
Sadleir commented, “[This incident in the book sent] shivers down my back… [this occurred] in our lifetime. This [happened at the same time] I was having my privileged life in Johannesburg, for me this was a very profound passage.”
Dlanga also spoke about the difficult phase of his life when he was a homeless person. He managed to figure out ways to squat at various locations, including the AAA School of Advertising until he subsequently had to drop out of the institution.
Sadleir recounted how Dlanga, after spending some time as a waiter, decided that he wanted to pursue a career in advertising. In his job application he wrote a short, unconventional and witty CV to the advertising agency, Lowe Bull in Cape Town.
Sadleir read the contents of Dlanga’s CV to the audience: “I can use phones, faxes and computers without breaking them. Some of my best friends are white, and I can swim when it’s absolutely necessary. I am not a member of Cosatu. Position applying for, copywriter. Experience in this field – I used to write slogans on township walls like ‘free Mandela’. This was a very successful campaign as you might have noticed.”
The company offered him a job.
Dlanga eventually built a reputable career in advertising, winning several Loeries and a Gold Cannes Lion award.
In recent years Dlanga has gathered prominence on South African social media as a columnist and social commentator, and has since established himself as an influential online media personality,
His Twitter account has more than 200 000 followers and he writes for the Mail and Guardian.
