Mpumelelo Ntintso’s Business ‘Book Ibhoni’ Gives Back To Soweto Community
Mpumelelo Mtintso has found a way to give back to his community through inspiring a healthy lifestyle. The 31 year old is the founder and marketing director of Book Iboni. A bicycle tour company in Soweto that donates books to schools and libraries in the local community.
Growing up in the township and receiving a bicycle as a Christmas present has to be one of the biggest achievements as a child if not the biggest. “All we wanted for Christmas was a bicycle.” According to Mpumelelo a bicycle gives freedom and independence. “Having a bicycle gave us so much freedom and of course we were naughty and would disappear for hour.”
Studying overseas was a result of his naughty behaviour. Mpumelelo moved to live with his second mother in Havana, because of his naughtiness. He enrolled at the International School of Havana for a few years before coming back to South Africa. Failure to choose a career, he found himself drawn to social issues.
The #FEESMUSTFALL movement is the reason behind Book Iboni. “I believe we do not read enough as a nation and we do not learn from our past”. He first started his business in 2016, by giving tours around Soweto if one donates a book to local libraries. “I started without any bike at all, but I had this one burning idea.” During his first days, he didn’t make any profit from the business.
After his recognition by a radio station, he made it a priority to sharing the word and gets as many bikes as possible.
From borrowing bikes, Book Iboni now has 30 bicycles. Book Iboni gives a tour around the most famous street in Soweto Vilakazi Street, Orlando east meets West and Soweto brewing company Golden Soweto, to name a few, where they reflect on the history of the nation and share insights about the Soweto Uprising.
Tour De Libraries ¶ II
— BOOK IBHONI (@book_ibhoni) May 6, 2019
If you missed our last #TourDeLibraries ride. Make sure you join us next time.
Next time June 17th 2019
Ride Starts in Vilakazi street
[email protected] for more info.
ENJOY THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF BEING ON A BICYCLE AND HELP EDUCATE A CHILD. pic.twitter.com/dGtVisfQMe
