17 Jul 2025

Debutant author Bokani Machinya has released a powerful anthology of struggle, courage, and survival dubbed The Silent Room, now available at the Alliance Française in Gaborone.

The Silent Room is collection of 24 literary pieces, encoumpassing short stories and poems, that spotlight pressing social issues in Botswana, including gender-based violence (GBV), prostitution and personal trauma, while also offering reflections on faith, resilience and healing.

“My inspiration for this book comes from my interactions with people, real-life situations, and my own personal experiences,” said Machinya, who is also a certified mentor.

She noted that her mentoring work had deepened her understanding of people’s struggles and offered insight that shaped her writing.

Among the standout pieces is her poem Raw, born from a deeply traumatic moment when she lost a loved one under her care.

Another, a short story titled Of the Night and of the Light, was inspired by an encounter with a group of women in the sex trade.

“I want to highlight several social issues, addiction, mental health, GBV, prostitution, city life and how it can corrupt destinies, through this book,” she explained, adding that she also touches on themes of faith and her personal relationship with God.

Machinya’s journey as a writer began in her primary school years.

“I would pick up stories and retreat into my private room, where I would spend most of my time writing,” she recalled.

That ‘silent room’ became a sacred space for introspection, an idea that later inspired the book’s title.“The oldest piece in this book dates back 10 years,” she revealed, noting that The Silent Room is the result of a decade-long evolution of her writing, refined with time and experience.

More than just storytelling, Machinya hopes the anthology will raise awareness of social issues in Botswana and inspire people to take collective responsibility.

“It might be your neighbour or someone living on the street, let us show compassion to those who are struggling, embrace them with warmth and learn how to help,” she said. ENDS