Vonani Bila Bio

Vonani Bila is a South African author and poet, he was born in 1972 in Shirley Village near Elim Hospital. He is the founder and editor of the poetry journal Timbila and directs the Timbila Poetry Project in Shirley Village, Elim in Limpopo Province.

He works as the co-ordinator of the Limpopo NGO Coalition and edits the newspaper Community Gazette. He has written eight story books in English and Tsonga for newly literate adult readers. His poetry has been published in the collection No Free Sleeping.

In 2003 Vonani Bila released his first music and poetry CD, 'Dahl Street, Pietersburg'. He is an embodiment of the voice of the black protest. Bila participated in the 'Poetry Africa 2005', an International festival of poetry held in Durban, South Africa.

Education

Vonani Bila started his education at Shirley Primary School at his home village of Shirley, he proceeded to do his secondary education at Lemana High School at Njhakanjhaka Village near Elim Hospital. After Lemana high school, he attended the University of Natal.

The organization started in 2000 from humble beginnings has grown in so few years and moved from strength to strength. In its short existence it has published almost 16 books and anthologies of poetry.

On the night of the launch it was interesting how different scholars and poets interpreted the works of other poets. The event was started with a moving rendition from the author of Talks with the Sun, Mpho Ramaano whose indictive poem 'A Bleeding Nation' had the audience eating out of his impoverished village palm.