books - The African Mirror

Feb

2024

Books: folklore and fantasy combine in Langabi, a supernatural historical epic from Zimbabwe

IN 2023, award-winning Zimbabwean author Christopher Mlalazi published a new book, Langabi: Season of the Beast. He’s the author of novels like Running with Mother (2012), Dancing with Life: Tales from the Township (2012) and They are Coming (2014). His books grapple with diverse social and political issues in Zimbabwe. As a scholar of African literature, including speculative fiction, I have researched Mlalazi’s previous books, especially his depiction of the Gukurahundi Genocide in Zimbabwe. Langabi is a novel that draws on the storytelling of the Ndebele people to recount the tale of a young man who finds himself in a…

Dec

2022

By The African Mirror

For the love of books: This South African author, publisher is on a mission to get everyone reading

LITERATURE

BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY LORRAINE Sithole credits her passion for books to a family tradition instilled in her by her grandmother decades ago. This meant that early childhood literary success was celebrated and reinforced. "One of the most profound moments for me when I was in primary school was when I was awarded an English book written by a local author," she said. Being recognised and awarded at a time when most of her peers were communicating exclusively in their mother tongue sparked a sense of ownership of her second language. Since then, she's been unstoppable. Years of networking,…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Abi Daré among nominated for NOMMO Awards

LITERATURE

AFRICAN fantasy authors are preparing to celebrate their nominations for the literary NOMMO Awards. The NOMMO Awards are literary awards presented by The African Speculative Fiction Society, that aims to recognise works of mythical, science fiction, horror or alternative historic fiction by Africans. The literary award is named after the Malian mythological creature known as a Nommo, an amphibious being with a cosmological perspective on mastery. Nigeria’s Abi Daré, South African Lauren Beukes, and Kenya’s Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, among others, were shortlisted in categories such as "Best Novel", "Best Short Story" , “Best Novella” and "Best Graphic Novel". New York…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Like Mother, like Son

LITERATURE

In this chapter extracted from his newly published hospital memoir, “Sound and Fury: The Chronicles of Healing”, SAUL MOLOBI looks forward to spending his weekend break from the Tshwane Rehabilitation Hospital with his mother – they are both disabled and using similar assistive devices… Though I love my Fridays, this is a special one since I will be spending this weekend with my mother, Kadimo Jane Molobi. This shouldn't make me sound like a momma’s boy. I am not. Besides, I grew up hearing all people, including my late dad, fondly calling her ‘mmaKgomotso’ (Kgomotso’s mom) to the extent that…