I am truly humbled and grateful to have received two incredible honours for my debut novel I Swear by Azania: the UAE’s Next Mastermind Award for Outstanding Author and the Golden Awards International Author Award. These recognitions mean so much to me, not only as a writer but also as someone who believes in telling stories that reflect truth, pain, resilience, and hope. 

I Swear by Azania is very close to my heart. It is set in post-apartheid South Africa and follows the life of a young girl named Azania, who has Pseudo achondroplasia. After the loss of her mother, she is forced to live with her racist aunt and endures abuse and neglect. Through her story, I wanted to confront the harsh realities of racism, cruelty, and discrimination that still echo from apartheid, while also exploring the strength of the human spirit in the face of suffering. 

As a poet, spoken word artist, and educator, my work often revolves around themes such as gender-based violence, mental health, and the scars of trauma. Writing this novel was my way of giving voice to those stories that are too often silenced. 

I am thankful to every reader who has embraced I Swear by Azania and to those who continue to believe in the power of literature to spark change and conversation. These awards remind me that stories matter, and I feel honoured to share mine with the world.