When Bontle Ndhlovu, aka Queen B, found out that grown-ups are behind the magical world of children’s books, this spunky young lady decided to give it a whirl herself. Fast forward a bit, and she already has two published books under her creative belt.
And when we say young, we mean young. Bontle Ndhlovu is just 11 years old. She penned her first adventure, The Oceanic Oxy Rescue Mission, at the age of only eight, and followed up with Nyla and the Magician when she was 10. Talk about being ahead of the curve!
Her passion for reading and storytelling has captured many, including some pretty big names. When H&M South Africa spotted Bontle’s talent, they chose her to feature in their latest Role Models campaign which shines a spotlight on the country’s literacy crisis. This campaign isn’t just about highlighting amazing kids though, it’s about empowering them to keep making waves in the world and giving them the tools they need to create lasting change. Which, as a matter of fact, fits perfectly into young Bontle’s vision. ‘I’m all about making sure kids’ voices are heard. It’s super important because if we’re too scared to speak up, we’ll never be able to achieve what we want. Oh, and remember … always remember … readers are leaders!’
The cherry on top of the cake? H&M is backing Bontle’s mission by funding a reprint of her latest book and translating it into isiXhosa, isiZulu, Afrikaans, and Sesotho. This means more kids across the country can dive into Bontle’s world in their own languages.
Needless to say, this Queen B’s love affair with books started super early. Even before she could read, her mom Refilwe would read to her. Starting from when Bontle was still in her mom’s belly. By the age of six, she was reading on her own, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Her love for reading is so deep that last year alone, she devoured a whopping 15 books … her fave genre being adventure. Her favourite books? The World’s Worst Children series and The World’s Worst Teachers by David Walliams.
‘I adore adventure stories. That’s what inspired me to create my own. My stories are packed with creativity, sparked by my wild imagination and a sprinkle of everyday life.’
Writing, though, isn’t always a walk in the park. “You’ve got to plan your characters well,” she admits. ‘Or else, one minute they’re a school cleaner, and the next, they’re hunting crocodiles … yhoooo!’
Speaking of yhoooo. That’s Bontle’s ultimate favourite word. ‘It’s just so versatile. I can use it when I’m embarrassed, surprised, or even happy.’
And, like all writers, this young author faces her own version of writer’s block … though she calls it writersptosis. But what pulls her through every time is the pure joy of being able to bring her imagination to life on a page.
Ever since she started writing, she’s been crafting stories for kids aged one to 10. But next year, she’s got big plans to publish something for readers aged nine and up. Her biggest dream being for every school in South Africa to have a library because she believes that’s how kids will learn to love reading.
Who’s her biggest inspiration? Well, it’s Bontle herself. Because she believes that with determination, she can achieve anything she sets her mind to. In fact, of all the characters she’s created, Nyla is her favourite because, in many ways, Nyla is a reflection of Bontle herself. Brave, funny, and wildly imaginative.
At school, she enjoys English and history. While English feeds her love for writing, history just fuels her love of learning. At home, she’s a bundle of fun who loves playing games, dancing, and binge-watching cartoons and cool documentaries. Her friends say she’s hilarious, and her parents will tell you she’s a chatterbox. And so it comes as no surprise that she’s even got her own YouTube channel where she not only shares her literary journey, but all kinds of super fun content.
Bontle’s journey has already racked up some impressive achievements, too. She’s been nominated in the Arts and Culture and Personal Development & Motivation categories for the Stacey Fru Foundation’s annual African Children’s Awards, and she’s even bagged an AfriCAN Honoree Author’s Award. Plus, she’s recorded even more stories on her mom’s phone, just waiting to be published.
For the big question … what does Bontle want to be when she grows up? “I want to be a doctor and a soccer player. Maybe I will continue writing as well,” she says with a grin.
One thing’s certain … dynamite sure does come in small packages. We’re rooting for Bontle, and know that she’s on her way to achieving some pretty big things. Watch out world. Queen B is just getting started!
You’ll find The Oceanic Oxy Rescue Mission and Nyla and the Magician on her website, adventureswithbontle.com for around R140.
Details: Follow @ Adventures with Bontle on Insta, Facebook and Youtube
