This from a young Bougainvillean writer; a Divine Word University student venturing into writing. He says writing books are a way to preserve our history.
Leonard Fong Roka comes from Tumpusiong valley wherethe worlds giant copper mine Panguna is located, Central Bougainville.
He is 34 years old among four ther siblings and currently a third year studentoin PNG Studies andInternational Relations.
Mr Roka so far has written three books, two already published by Pukpuk Publication in Beisbane Australia:the Pomong U’tau of DREAMS; a poetry collection and Moments in Bougainville containing 16 short stories.
Writing books was his dream, he said, it’s now his hobby.
He said he has ventured into writing books, joining ther renowned writers like Professor Steven Winduo, Russell Soaba, Sir Paulias Matane,the late Dr Regis Stella and Aloysius Benono known as Matabuna Tahun, whom he wrote poems with.
And he proverd it well being one ofthe Crocodile Prize recipients on his short story: ‘Farewell My Bougainville Prophetess’.
Roka saidthe writing art culture have been revived throughthe Crocodile Prize by Keith Jackson and Phil Fitzpatrick, to promotPNG through literature.
Roka urges young people to participate in crocodile prize writing competition to exposetheir art of writing.
