By: Zethu Gweva
Living in the streets at the age of six didn’t stop author Luthando Lucas from Duncan Village in East London from achieving his dream as a writer and publishing his five books.
The award winning author of books I AM, A Trilogy of Poetry, African Child, Reflections of my Country and Poetry of my Soul who also owns a publishing company called Matchbox said he was born with a stuttering problem and his teacher would make him sit and read a book out loud.
“I have been entrapped by books, when I was in Grade 1 my English teacher would make me read a book during break time. I felt like I had a voice through books which cured my speaking and reading ability, that’s why I am in love with writing”.
During his break time reading sessions he discovered fondness for poetry but he never shared his scripts as they were very deep and having accumulated his education from Tshwane University of Technology which broadened his intellectualism when he came back home he realised that township stories were not being told.
“Instead of running away from the stories in the townships I was born, I found it as a stepping stone,’’ said Lucas.
Growing up without parents and having to live with his extended family that excessively consumed alcohol, Lucas ended up living with his neighbours where he ended up hustling for food and became a street kid.
“My father abandoned me two days after I was born whereas my mother left when I was about 12 months old and went to Johannesburg for a better life and she didn’t return for many years”, he said.
The father of two who is about to publish three books this year said this month he is going to launch a book called Letters to my Seeds.
Lucas encouraged youth to work their way out of poverty. “Your past doesn’t determine your future and being born in poverty is not your problem but to die in poverty is your problem”.