PROVERB: BOOKS STRENGTHEN MINDS

Tebogo Thekisho, the former musician popularly known as ProVerb, is a very busy man. The entertainer, businessman, student and author recently joined forces with the Nal’ibali literacy campaign to encourage children to read.

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Everyone who knows anything about South African music and entertainment knows that ProVerb is a brilliant entertainer. He is host and co-producer of SA Idols on Mzansi Magic and hosts The Property Game on the Property Channel. He’s also a non-executive director on the board of the SA Music Rights Organisation, and is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

His memoir, The Book of ProVerb, co-written with Paballo Rampa, was published last year. And this year he became a brand ambassador for Nal’ibali, an organisation that champions literacy and encourages young kids to learn to read in their mother tongues.



Rampa is a journalist and social media manager whose 2017 book, Tumi Goes to the Park, was itself part of a drive to improve childhood literacy, so working with ProVerb was very much a natural fit. The two of them are determined to do their bit to encourage a culture of reading, among youngsters in particular.

‘BOOKS FORCE OUR BRAINS TO WORK AND DEVELOP’
In an interview with Nal’ibali’s Sally du Preez, ProVerb said, ‘I think it is so vital that we encourage a culture of reading, especially among young people. Devices have monopolised our attention, and we need to re-stimulate our imaginations. Books force our brains to work and develop, so we must instil a culture of reading.’

Related article: Why mother tongue matters

ProVerb says his passion for books emerged after he had cemented himself as a popular musician. ‘I chased that dream so hard that I ignored many other opportunities,’ he adds. But once he’d found fame and his name was a household word in South Africa, he realised that there was more to life. ‘I’ve realised that my life has lots of further potential,’ he says.

‘Now, I’m empowering myself through studies, reading widely and being open to many different experiences.’ Having achieved his original desire – for his talent to be heard – he found himself inspired to ‘live an impactful life, make a difference, and build and leave a legacy.’ He’s a father to two beautiful children, a boy and a girl, who no doubt played a big role in motivating him to leave behind a meaningful legacy. ‘My children give my life perspective and purpose,’ he says. ‘I try and teach them all I can, but I also learn plenty from them.’

ALWAYS BEEN A STORYTELLER AT HEART
About his book, ProVerb says, ‘A proverb, as you know, is a short statement of truth, and I wanted my material to be the truth, or about the truth.’ He adds that he has always been a storyteller, but the experience of physically writing a book was a whole new dimension for him.

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‘The process was daunting at first,’ he says, ‘but later it became empowering as I reclaimed the narrative of my life.’ The book is a candidly honest account of his life – the good times and the dark times – and he doesn’t shy away from painful truths. ‘I found it cathartic,’ he says, ‘as it enabled me to find the closure I needed.’

He says the book is symbolic of ‘the literal conclusion of some chapters of my life,’ and adds that it gave him a ‘sense of freedom and peace, and also excitement about the new chapters I’m yet to write.’

FAVOURITE FAMILY BOOK
ProVerb says he and his kids loved the Harry Potter books by JK Rowling. He adds that in his household, ‘we make sure to visit bookstores regularly and, now and then, they’re allowed a new book each.’

And since he’s also a student these days, he says they often sit in his office, reading and working on their assignments together. That’s genuine investment in your children!



WHY BOOKS ROCK
In an eNCA interview with anchor Uveka Rangappa, ProVerb explained why getting kids to read is so important to him:

‘Reading has become a big part of my life; my identity. I’m trying to bring back the excitement around books.’

‘Books are where the ideas lie, where the information lies. If you want to thrive in life, and just blossom and be a success, you need to find the information – and where is it? In books!’

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