CHARMAINE KOLWANE MRWEBI

Charmaine Kolwane Mrwebi, a South African female writer and cultural activist, has published two major studies on African writers - Chief O Bolaji, and Flaxman Qoopane.    

Charmaine was actually only in her early 20's when she published her comprehensive study on Bolaji in 2005, titled Channeling one s thoughts onto Paper. She would later update and revise this work. And in 2016, she has just published the first major  study-book on Flaxman Qoopane titled "Father of Letters".

The importance of such major studies on writers – particularly African writers - can not be over-emphasised. Readers might not be able to read or appreciate all the major works of writers, but an important study-book on such writers introduces such wordsmiths and their work to the world.         

Hence in the African context, scholars and readers can already appreciate major studies (books) published over the years on the likes of Camara Laye, Ayi Kwei Armah, Es'kia Mphahlele, Bessie Head, Marechera, Chinua Achebe, Dangarembga, Wole Soyinka, Ngugi and other key writers. 

Interestingly, Bolaji has reminisced about Charmaine's early study on his own work:

Quote  When I first met Charmaine years ago, she was just in her early 20’s. I could hardly believe her passion for books and the world of letters whilst most ladies of her age were obsessed with material things including fine smartphones, cars, clothes, and the like. At the time, she was already churning out passionate poetry and essays – I smile wryly now as I recollect some of her letters which I published in newspapers and magazines at the time. I also had the pleasure of publishing some of her poignant poetry then.

I was rather taken aback years ago when Charmaine told me she was writing a book about me. Although I did not say it at the time, my first feeling was that she was too “immature” to undertake such a task. I was however pleasantly surprised to see how brilliant the book she produced was. It can now be revealed that the book was written in record time too! Her analytical and critical nous (ability) is displayed in the work titled “Omoseye Bolaji: Channeling one’s thoughts onto paper”. The book was not only a great success locally and nationally, but is stocked in some of the best Universities in the world now… end of quote

Charmaine's study on Flaxman Qoopane brings together a number of essays, articles, poems, vignettes etc on the protagonist. Also included are samples of Qoopane's essays on literature. Writers and essayists of the calibre of Goodenough Mashego, Bolaji, Ishmael Soqaga, Teboho Masakala, and JahRose Jafta contribute to this work.

Charmaine has published other books, apart from her studies on these writers; in particular she has published a lot of poetry, books for children, and other works in African languages.

It should also be noted, that like all good writers, Charmaine has been a great reader of books since her childhood. This is evident from virtually everything she writes, and her ideas.           

With her boundless energy and dynamism, together with her incredible vision and goodwill, Charmaine Kolwane Mrwebi will no doubt continue to do wonderful things for African literature.

  - R Mokoena