23 Mar 2021

Mahalapye born, Paula Otukile has published two books; a short story book titled Overcoming Failure and African Poetry Soup Anthology a collaboration with a Kenyan author.

Through Overcoming Failure, a 78-paged motivational book published in 2020, Otukile inspires youth and young women to remain focused to succeed in life.

She encourages the reader to take failure as a chance to review mistakes done and try again.

African Poetry Soup Anthology is a collection of poems from various authors.

In this 78-paged book, also published last year, Otukile shares the rich and diverse Tswana culture through her six poems, being; Harvest, Kgotla, My Oracle, Grandfather, Botswana and President Masisi.

To bring the taste of African poetry, the poems contained in the book are from Botswana, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya settings.

Otukile derived her love for literature and poetry in 2005 when pursuing her BA Humanities at the University of Botswana.

During that period, she knew literature was her niche, as her Literature lecturer, Professor Moteane Melamu made a great impact in her life.

“I also started developing the love for books at the age of five inspired by the narration of a book dubbed Kwa Morakeng wa ga Oabile from Morongwa wa ntlha Setswana books that my late grandmother, Tshwanelo Otukile used to read for me. I loved the narration and eventually developed a keen interest in reading,” she said.

Whilst doing Form Five at Swaneng Hill Senior Secondary School in 2004, she scooped Best in Literature award, which also contributed towards the foundation of her literature journey.

“As technology continues to take over, I am inspired to write and archive our Tswana history and culture, because culture is dynamic. As for my poetry, the inspiration came from the late Tanzanian lecturer, Euphrase Kezilhabi, who encouraged me to try live performances. 

On my quest to solidify my polyglot status, I taught English as a second language in Collegio Oceano da Luz in Angola and that is when I really began my writing career,” explained Otukile.

Besides Overcoming Failure and African Poetry Soup Anthology, she has also written and published other books, which includes; Thato wishes to be a butterfly, Daniel Goes to Botswana, Kagiso Lost His Mask, On Becoming Donna Paula, Because I Love Him and Nna Bagaetsho ba Mphile Maina, among others.

Currently, Otukile is an Editor of Art Culture and Lifestyle in M. T. Kenya Times a daily newspaper in Kenya.

She is also a coordinator and founder of a Portuguese literature company called Mulher Forte African Literature Pty, Ltd.

Mulher Forte African Literature Pty Ltd deals with Literary Consulting and Translations, as well as workshops and hosting annual literature awards, which commenced March 2021.

Her books can be found at Books Botswana book store at P200 for hard copies, whilst her eBooks can be found at P90 on the following Amazon, Apple books, Rakuten kobo, SCRIBD, Tolin, Vivlio, 24 symbol links: https://books2read.com/u/mVgax2, https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08HN4ZS7P and https://books2read.com/u/4NXxJG.  ENDS