ABOUT THE COLLECTION

Thabiso Tshowa’s debut book of short stories, Mrova, is a striking collection of sketch-like tales that bring to life the rhythm, voice, movement, and activity of daily life in the small town of Bethal, Mpumalanga. From taxi bosses and young lovers, to promising young sports stars, spaza shop owners, and small-time thugs, the stories in Mrova embody the voices and attitudes of the people and places they depict. Tshowa puts forward a collective portrait of his home town that is vivid, evocative, and witty, refracted through the keen and considered lens of a storyteller interested in making sense of a place through the characters who inhabit it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thabiso Chris Tshowa was born at Pholosong hospital in Tsakane, Brakpan in 1993. He is named after the late, great Chris Hani and Tshowa’s late, great grandfather, Ramutele Christopher Chowa who was a soldier in the South African Army until he died in 1954.

Tshowa lives in Bethal, Mpumalanga, where he gets most of his inspiration. He writes about the average Joe because he believes everyone has a story to tell. His short stories have been published multiple times on the FunDza platform, and in Kotaz, New Contrast, and Botsotso. Tshowa is inspired by all the beautiful art, literature and music in the world, but above all, he is inspired by the people he writes about – how they keep fighting against the odds and their environments, and make changes in their lives and the lives of others.