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12 April 2022 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Supplied
Siphilangenkosi Dlamini.

“The reason I write is because I know that there will be a time when people such as my grandmother and her peers will not be around to tell us stories by word of mouth, hence we need to preserve the stories they tell us in black and white,” said Siphilangenkosi Dlamini.  

The fourth-year Governance and Political Transformation student at the University of the Free State (UFS) is the author of a book, titled Magic and Other Authentic Experiences. The book is a compilation of 13 short stories that follow the lives of a vast pool of characters as they experience chaos, love, and tragedy, among other things.

Some of the stories highlighted in the book

The chapter ‘The House on Marloth Street’ delineates the story of a young woman named Gracious, who is forced into prostitution to earn her keep by an elder in her life. The book also sheds light on the intricacies of young love through a story titled ‘The Suicide Note’. This story follows the lives of two characters named Menzi and Lulu, whose lives reach a devastating end because of secrets, deceit, and forbidden love. However, one of Dlamini’s favourite stories in the book is titled ‘Girl on the Bus’, which is based on a real-life occurrence. “It was one of those rare experiences where you meet someone and they are full of life,” he stated. 

The book is ultimately a manifestation of Dlamini’s love of literature. In fact, he argues that “these stories are a portrayal of different experiences of young people stepping into the world and trying to navigate life, love, and relationships”. This can be seen in the first story in the book, titled ‘Magic on Campus’, which is an account of Dlamini trying to pursue a young woman he met on campus, and highlighting how she made him feel. 

Making strides through literature

Dlamini’s authentic storytelling led to three of his stories being selected as part of the curriculum for the English Academic Literature module, which is included in most faculties at the UFS. As many of the students at the UFS are exposed to this work, he states that, “I would love this book to symbolise the importance of telling African stories”. Although Dlamini is making strides with this book, he is still working on expanding the book’s reach. “I’m emailing bookstores every day, trying to get the book into bookstores,” he said.

Future endeavours for the young author

As someone who strongly believes in the preservation of African literature and the portrayal of African love stories in their most authentic context, Dlamini is currently working on his next project. The project would count as his first novel and is a sequel to the stories from Magic and Other Authentic Experiences. In this novel, Dlamini explores a world in which the various characters are placed in a similar setting, and the experiences they would have if their lives were to intersect. 

The book is currently available for purchasing at R100 per copy. Those interested in purchasing a copy may contact Siphilangenkosi Dlamini on +27 84 374 0032 or 2018245304@ufs4life.ac.za.

Magic and Other Authentic Experiences book cover

News Archive

Researcher on polymer science on sabbatical in Qatar
2014-09-09

 

Prof Riaan Luyt
Photo: Supplied

Prof Riaan Luyt from the University of the Free State’s Qwaqwa Campus has started a 12-month sabbatical in Qatar. This follows an invitation by the Qatar University in Doha to work as a research professor at the university's Centre of Advanced Materials.

In the 21 years that he has spent on the Qwaqwa Campus, Prof Luyt has published more than 165 research papers in international scientific journals and has had over 1 850 citations by other international scientists. He also reviews scientific research on polymer science in more than 10 journals.

“There were no science laboratories when I first came here and I made it my mission to establish them as soon as possible as I was passionate about research then, as I am now,” said Prof Luyt.

He has supervised twenty five master’s and eight doctoral students and is currently supervising five master’s and six doctoral students. Prof Luyt also serves on the International Advisory Board of eXPRESS Polymer Letters – one of the leading polymer science journals.

In 2012, he was listed as the second-best researcher at the UFS and is a regular keynote speaker at international conferences. He has mentored many students who are now leaders in the industry. One of his current doctoral students came to the university as a student in the University Preparatory Programme (UPP), who had not passed matric well enough to be admitted. Yet, Prof Luyt mentored her to where she is today –  currently finalising her PhD in Polymer Science.

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