Mxit is an instant messaging application that became highly popular in South Africa around 2003. As a teenager, I remember thinking how cool I was now that I could talk to my friends over the internet.
Mxit is an instant messaging application that became highly popular in South Africa around 2003. As a teenager, I remember thinking how cool I was now that I could talk to my friends over the internet.
Mxit faded from my consciousness over the years, as new forms of instant messaging became popular through Blackberry and the iPhone, but a large population of South African youths still use the application. According to Mxit, they have 7.4 million monthly users.
I was surprised by this number and decided to download the app for myself to see how much it has changed, and it has changed significantly.
The reason I became interested in Mxit again after so long, was because I heard of Bookly, an application (app) created by NATIVE and run through Mxit. This innovative app is aimed at younger South Africans and is an attempt at creating an interest in reading and writing.
The application, which I joined with my new Mxit access, boasts a library of over 400 books, poems and short stories, all of which can be read for free. Soon after the application was launched, publishers Random House, Struik and Mondjajie Books joined as partners and attempted to add South African-based books to the app.
The great thing about Bookly is that it allows access to these pieces of writing as long as the reader has a cellphone with internet access.
This will allow many users without access to hard-copy books or computers with internet access, to read, write and submit their own stories.
The option to submit your own work encourages the youth to write and create, even if it is simply a poem or short story.
Writers can share submissions with friends and their work can be reviewed and commented on.
I found the app to be easy to use and it features a general library where you can search all the available book options.
There is also a School Reads section, which contains books that may be useful for scholars. This section even had a ‘fun’ comprehension test for one of the books on the list.
The Bookly application beat more than 200 applicants to win the ‘Best Start-Up’ award at the London FutureBook Innovation Awards in November 2013. It also won ‘Most Innovative App’ at the 2013 MTN App of the Year Awards.
As someone who loves books and reading, especially when I don’t have to pay for the books, I would highly recommend downloading this app.
