Gladys Lomafu Pato


Gladys Lomafu Pato is a Swazi short story writer, teacher and lecturer.

Early life

She was born Gladys Lomafu Dlamini, near to the town of Piggs Peak in Swaziland in 1930. She was the daughter of a well-known chief who had many cattle and many wives, and was one of the richest Swazis in the land. Her mother was his eighth wife.

Personal life

On 1 January 1957, she married Petrus Phembuvuyo Pato, who was a Christian pastor like his father, and they had three sons together, and adopted a daughter.

Career

She was studying at Bible College when she met her future husband, and they ran various ministries throughout Swaziland. She became a qualified teacher, and in 1980, earned her bachelor's degree in education from the University of Swaziland. She then worked at William Pitcher Teachers College for eight years as a lecturer, and later taught in a private school in Lilongwe, Malawi, as her husband was the academic dean of Lilongwe Nazarene Bible College there.
Her publications include Umtsango, a 117-page volume of short stories, published by Swaziland Academic Services in 1977.

Publications