International Literacy Day, which was on 8 September, had the theme “Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces,” in a bid to rethink the fundamental importance of learning environments to build resilience. It also aims to ensure quality and inclusive education for all. As a black scholar, Dr Isaac Ndlovu is the prodigy of transformation in literacy with his contribution as a lecturer and writer.

Ndlovu is a senior lecturer at the University of Venda in the department of English, Linguistics and Media Studies, and supervises postgraduate students from honours to PhD level, as well as mentorship.

International Literacy Day is about the transmission of information which Ndlovu has contributed to through his specialty as an African English academic who has been published in books and accredited journals.

Through his work, he creates awareness on African narratives and texts and as a result, has received the prestigious C3 NRF rating which is given to researchers who have conceptualised problems and applied research methods to investigate them. With his contribution in African literature, Ndlovu embodies black academic excellence.

Given the history of Africa and the suppression of dissenting voices during colonialism, Ndlovu and other pro-African scholars have amplified those once unfortunate expressions. International Literacy Day cannot be celebrated without acknowledging the contribution of researchers and scholars to the educational system. And it is now commonplace for non-African countries to learn about the continent from an African point of view.