This week on Bloggers Excel we have Nobuhle N Nyoni, the inspirational powerhouse behind Becoming Ubu. A very interesting interview with a blogger who is so passionate about her blogging and doing it with great zeal and patience. She is such a great source of inspiration to all of us who are engaged in creative writings on the internet. Read the interview and get inspired!

Can you please tell our readers about yourself and your blog?

My name is Nobuhle N Nyoni, also known as uBu. I am a recording artist, blogger, self-published author, digital marketer and web developer. I am the founder of YouBeYou Creators and Shoppa. My blog, titled BecominguBu (becoming you) is a personal blog where I talk about experiences and lessons, I have learnt in my journey of becoming myself. My mantra is: you be you. I want every person young and old that it is ok to be yourself, you be comfortable in your body and skin. To express yourself, however best you can.

Describe how did you first get into blogging?

I started blogging because I felt misunderstood. I am not a confrontational person either so everything I felt just sat inside of me and built up. I needed a space I could vent, where I knew the people that hurt me would not get to, and my blog became that space. I played the victim for a very long time, and I did not know what my voice was, so all I did was rant.

Can you tell me some of your strengths that helped you in blogging?

I think my biggest strength is the writing itself; I have been a writer for a very long time. From primary school, I wrote poems and speeches. The love for writing keeps me alive and going.

How do you want to improve yourself in the next month?

My fear of rejection has me turning away from interactive ideas and opportunities, and I think that’s the one thing I need to do better. To be as visible as possible in the right spaces.

What do you think is the best service a blogger can provide to his readers?

Solutions, upliftment, strength, change and hope. Our spaces have more power than we realize, and it saddens me to find someone who blogs about ‘anything and everything.’ Find your space and voice and use it to change someone’s tomorrow.

What was the most challenging moment in your blogging journey so far?

I thought the growth part was easy and when I realized that it takes more than good writing and a catchy topic for people to pay attention to you, I gave up. I was angry with myself and people for not believing in me. But people cannot believe in something they do not know.

Who has impacted you most in blogging, and how?

Black women who have stood up and spoken proudly and openly about critical everyday issues. I draw inspiration from each of them.

What is your most outstanding achievement outside of blogging?

The biggest achievement, that is a tough one. Publishing my book, The Kings That Didn’t Need This Queen. I never imagined I would publish a book.

What do you do in your spare time?

I’m such a workaholic, but when I do force myself into my spare time, I do binge watch on my favourite tv shows and movies.

Can you name some of your favourite bloggers?

Faith Panashe (Faith Panashe), Makupsy (Fitness Bae), Beaton (Becoming the Muse) and Nandi Shona.

How do you motivate yourself to keep the blog up and running?

I remind myself that I need to change the world, one person, at a time. Someone has to stand up and say, ‘ I have become myself, and I found the strength through becomingubu.com.’

What do you find the most frustrating aspect of blogging?

Bloggers, we talk about being a community, but that is the most broken community I know. Competition and the crab mentality lives and breeds there. I do not know how to fix it anymore, the ones that have made it think the ones below them are their children. It is frustrating. We have a long way to go.

In the future, where do you hope your blog will take you?

I hope it takes me to stages where I will speak to young people and teach them the importance of answering their call and fully expressing themselves.

Do you have any specific goals for the rest of this year?

The goal is to get more people on the train.

Did you have any professional help, or did you create the blog yourself?

I was heavily involved, but I did learn from other people in the industry too.

What do you think is the best social media strategy for getting more visitors to a blog?

Be part of the people, be in conversation with people; they will get curious about you and look deeper into your brand.