Charmaine Kolwane Mrwebi is following in the footsteps of her late grandmother, Ellen Kuzwayo, a writer who published an award-winning book, Call Me Woman.
Grandmother Kuzwayo was born in Thaba Nchu in the Free State. She completed her education as a social worker. It took her 15 years to write her book, Call Me Woman, which won the CNA English Prize in 1986. The book is sold in the country and abroad and has been translated into several foreign languages including German, Danish and Dutch, just to name a few.
Ellen Kuzwayo left Thaba Nchu and lived in Soweto, where she was involved in a number of organisations, including the Soweto Committee of Ten, the Zamani Soweto Sisters Council and the Black Consumer Union. She passed away in Soweto while fighting to bring freedom to her people in the country.
Charmaine Kolwane Mrwebi, an author, librarian, poet, puppeteer, publisher, storyteller and director of the Charmza Literary Club in Phola-Park Kasi, in Mangaung, said: “I was born in Thaba Nchu. After completing my high school education I went to Bloemfontein where I studied as a librarian and I was employed by the Bloemfontein Public Library for several years. I have loved reading and writing since being a teenager. I fell in love with the books published in my mother tongue, Setswana. My opportunity came when I was employed by the Bloemfontein Public Library. I read many books, including Call Me Woman by Ellen Kuzwayo. It was so interesting to read a book written by my grandmother who was also born in my hometown, Thaba Nchu. Grandmother Kuzwayo spent her whole life fighting for the freedom of the oppressed people. Although she is dead, many writers from Thaba Nchu, Soweto and the nine provinces in the country have been inspired by her bravery and her writings. I really appreciate her literary contribution to our literature.”
Mrwebi has read many books published in Setswana. She also began to write some books in the African language. “In order to promote our indigenous languages, I published the following children’s books: Mantlwane… Ga re Tshamekeng, published in Setswana; Mantlwane Let us Play (an English translation); Mantlwane A re Tshamekeng, a Setswana children’s storybook and Batswana Let us Play, a play. These publications are aimed at promoting our African languages and create a culture of reading among our children,” Mrwebi added.
She always had a vision of people reading. “Our people should often visit our libraries and become friends of books. Remember, any person who reads books on a daily basis, develops better listening skills. Reading helps learners and students to perform better at school. As a nation we should teach our people not to burn our libraries, because by doing that they are destroying the future of our children.”
As a writer and poet, Charmaine Kolwane Mrwebi published her first book, Omoseye Bolaji: Channeling One’s Thought Onto Paper in 2007. Her second book to be published is a collection of poetry, Poetry Commando.
“I launched both books at the National Afrikaans Literature Museum/ Sesotho Literary Museum in Bloemfontein in 2003. Writers who attended this occasion included Hector Kunene, Omoseye Bolaji, Nthabiseng Jah Rose Jafta and Skiettreker Seape.
“Both books – Omoseye Bolaji: Channeling One’s Thought Onto Paper, and Poetry Commando – were again launched during the Wordfest at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown in July 2013. Together with Kagisho Kolwane, I co-authored the collection of poems, Setswana Love Letters.
Mrwebi founded the Charmza Literary Club, which empowers young motivational speakers, poets and writers. She said : “The Charmza Literary Club continues going to schools in the Free State where we identify young writers and donate books to these writers after they have formed their book clubs, poetry groups and reading clubs. More than one thousand kids attended the 2nd Annual Mokete Puppetry and Storytelling Festival in Mangaung from 25 – 28 May. I want to thank Dr Gcina Mhlophe and everybody who participated during the festival.” – FLAXMAN QOOPANE 
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