Born in Sekhing in the North West, Tuelo Gabonewe is a book author who has published five books: Planet Savage, Hippo and his Friends, Sarcophagus, Tshika fa e ya Baneng, and Dinotshi. Tuelo takes his writing exceptionally seriously, even though he works full-time. For him, writing is a talent and a calling.
Tuelo has spent most of his life writing. His first book, an English novel named Planet Savage, was published in 2011, and his first Setswana book, Tshika fa e ya Baneng, was published in 2020.
"I have always enjoyed writing and reading. Writing essays and compositions was something I genuinely enjoyed doing in school throughout my childhood, and it is how I honed my writing skills. If I say so myself, I think I am a very excellent writer, and a lot of that depends on how much I value what I do and how much time I put into honing my art. The effort never stops; therefore, I am still pushing myself to get better and better," he said.
His debut book, Planet Savage, is a bildungsroman, a coming-of-age tale set in the North West, with a 9-year-old boy as the main character who has some crazy notions about life. He writes for both adult and young readers.
Dinotshi, his most recent book, is the first comprehensive erotic novel in Setswana. “I would not classify myself as an erotica writer because I am flexible and multifaceted, and there is still a lot to come from me,” he added, noting that he was pleased about the sequel in the works.
Tuelo says he does not belong to any genre because he creates literary fiction and focuses on the lives of individuals of black descent. “I believe I have to share our own stories, so that is what I do,” he said. He was raised in a Setswana village by people he considers the finest language speakers. He now sees it as his obligation to ensure that the lovely language survives for future generations through his writing.
“As you progress through life as a writer, your challenges will shift. Finding your style and direction is a challenge at the outset. The next step is determining where and how to publish your work. There is much talent out there, so making a reputation for yourself and being one of the greatest is the next step. Now that I am older and have many more obligations, I have been finding it challenging to carve out time for writing. The key is to stay on course and keep putting in the hard work," said Tuelo.
He says that one of the most amazing things he has learned while writing his books is that hundreds of thousands of people read them in this country, especially since he started writing in Setswana. He says writers need much help, but they must ensure their work is good.
"Every time I put out a new book, it is my biggest accomplishment. That shows me that I am not a "one-hit wonder" and that my voice matters at this table. What makes me different is that I have my voice, which sets me apart as an individual. I have never tried to sound like anyone else, and I can use humour in my writing even when talking about serious things," he said.
He says that he feels it is his duty and responsibility to make sure that the language of his ancestors lives on for the next generation. He is also driven to mark a moment in time and remind everyone that the Batswana tribe is still alive. In his words, "Batswana ba teng ba a tshela."
He concludes that you cannot be a writer if you do not read: "You have to read a lot, work hard, never be satisfied, and always try to get better.”
