Thulani Gladwell Poni, an author, scriptwriter, director and musician wished to tell his story from his uncle’s living room in Mbekweni.
Paarl Post was warmly welcomed by Vuyani Prince Poni, the writer’s uncle, with a humble handshake and earnest eyes.
“I asked him to tidy up the house so that we can be proud to invite you to our home,” Poni said.
“I wanted to highlight my background and set the landscape of my ‘dialogue book’, Angel’s Wings, to be launched on a European book tour soon.”
The 39-year-old was raised by his great-grandmother from the tender age of three months while his mother went off to the big city in search of work.
“We are a big family,” he said. “Through tremendous struggles we grew up with a serious love and devotion to family. My grandmother always fought to ensure our safety and well-being.
“I was doing well in the Western Cape, where I studied music in 1997, and in 2001 I was signed-up by Sunset Recording Studios in Stellenbosch. There I worked with producer and recording engineer Jürgen von Wechmar on two studio albums.”
Poni’s second album, Mr Tools from the Prophecy, inspired him to pursue skills in entertainment that make things happen – orchestrating, producing, behind-the-scenes work.
“I had developed a curiosity about the staging of shows, not as audience but participant. That’s when I started scripting, producing and directing.”
Although by then a mover and shaker on local circuits, he left home and moved to Johannesburg following the death of his great-grandmother in 2004. It would not be long before his return to Mbekweni.
“I was in search of greener pastures, because everyone had said money was to be found in the City of Gold. But I came back in 2008.”
In 2012 Poni started writing short stories, which he sent to Mzanzi Magic’s Ikasi Stories that eventually aired on eTV many times.
“That’s when I really started to grow attached to my pen and other interests. I deviated from my own dreams later on and focused on what others wanted, particularly those in my community, and to develop the locale around entertainment, drama, music and sports, especially for youth in their teens.”
In 2019 he produced the manuscript of Angel’s Wings: Shameful Life Experience, which was intended as a script for an action-packed movie with drama, romance and gang violence.
“The romance of a character called Beauty who was victimised and attacked by an infamous gang paved the way to action. All this from a girl in love who eventually commits suicide and is avenged by her love interest, Sipho.
“The story brings into life the struggles relating to rape, gender-based violence and victimisation, among other things women being afraid to speak out. In our communities there are those brave enough to tell their stories and seek justice, but the justice system often fails them.”
Poni realised how such realities may well be a bitter pill for his readers to swallow. “No matter how the reader receives it, it has to be raw for people to understand the reality of our society, coupled with injustice.”
He crafted his characters to be relatable, as sources of inspiration to the youth of the townships.
“I wanted the characters to inspire those who read the story, hopefully to guide their real-life choices away from the sort of scenarios our people face too often.”
The manuscript was signed-up for a film production by Boom Town Films, which was put on hold by the Covid pandemic.
“There are currently talks to continue this work, as the production of the film was decided on by the director of the movie Samson, Bruce McDonald. He agreed to produce the film in collaboration with Universal Studios, which will take charge of distribution once it’s ready for the silver screen.”
But for now this “dialogue book” is poised for a different consumption, and its first edition is ready for retail. Being a straight shooter, Poni has set his sights on the international market.
“I sent the book to the top 10 international publishers, and it was not long before I received feedback from Europe Books.”
The publishing house has produced significant volumes on subject matter from former US President Barack Obama’s speeches to Pope Francis.
“It was signed-up for global publishing with partners such as Europa Edizioni and UK Vine House Distribution.”
Poni’s contract stipulates his book – in English and Xhosa – will be on the shelves of 60 000 bookshops worldwide.
This proud tome on the realities of his motherland will be showcased at the London Book Fair, Turin Book Fair, Frankfurter Buchmesse and Piu libri piu liberi (Rome), Book Expo America and Le Madrid (Barcelona).
“I already have interviews booked with The New York Times, Guardian, CNN, BBC and other media outlets.”
