African Roar Anthology 2010

Title : African Roar
Pages : Paperback 152
Publisher : Story Time Publishing June 2010
ISBN: 978-0956242280

The African Roar Anthology 2010 is a colourful collection of 10 short stories by established authors across the continent of Africa. The Anthology was co-edited by Ivor Hartmann (Editor of Story time E-zine) and Emmanuel Sigauke (Founder of Wealth of Ideas Blog, author and poet). What immediately becomes apparent as you read through the stories is that the Anthology is a flavourful snapshot of the writing talent in Africa. The Anthology opens with ‘Big pieces and Little pieces’ by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma. This is a story written in the first person. Tshuma’s choice of language allows the story to flow into a front row peak into the lives and interactions of an African family plagued by domestic violence. The perpetrator is father and the abuse is narrated through the eyes of father’s child. The child feels guilty for what father did to mother. This is truly a riveting piece of story telling that will linger in your thoughts long after you have read it. It is an accurate depiction of issues that many families experience in the world today.  The ‘Nestbury Tree’ by Ayodele Morocco-Clarke is a fast paced humorous and suspenseful account of an altercation between the Shepherd of the church and mum. The Shepherd wants the Nestbury Tree to be cut down because he believes it is a haven for witches. However, mum is in opposition to this and is adamant that the tree is NOT coming down. Mums reason; the tree was brought all the way from Kingston, Jamaica and planted by her father’s very own bare hands. Despite efforts from a Pastor to pour water on the blazing argument, the Shepherds war on the Nestbury tree escalates to a humorous level. However, what eventually happens to the tree and to mum is quite unexpected.

 The Co-editors have also offered their commendable contributions; ‘Love Lost’ by Ivor Hartmann and ‘A Return the Moonlight’ By Emmanuel Sigauke. ‘Yesterday’s Dog’ by Masimba Musodza deals with the challenges experienced with forgiveness and reconciliation in a racially divided country following a civil war in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe. Other contributors include NAMA Award wining Zimbabwean author ‘Christopher Mlalazi’ with his story ‘Cicada in the Shimmer’, Kola Tubosun, Beaven Tapureta, Chuma Nwokolo Jr, Nana A Damoah and Ayesha H. Attah.

  African Roar is definitely a collection that can be enjoyed. It is available at all major internet bookstores including  Amazon.com


African Roar 2011 and 2012 are now available.

Title: African Folktales for Children
Author: Uncle Blen Blen
Pages: 110
Publisher: Lion Press Limited 2009
ISBN: 9780956242228

African Folktales for Children by Uncle Blen Blen is a collection of 10 short folktales. Uncle Blen Blen is the pseudonym for Zimbabwean Children’s writer Dr Jonathan Masere. The 110 page book is 8” by 5” in diameter with illustrations by Jeffrey Milanzi. The notable feature in this book is the illustrations as they appropriately represent the tales being told. From the blurb on the back cover it is difficult to tell whether the book is targeted directly at children or targeted at the parents who will share the stories with their children. Either way both audiences would find some enjoyment in the stories.

  My preference would have been to have the book much larger in size as well as using a larger font. Whilst parents are reading the stories the children would want to have a look at the pictures. Having a larger book would make this easier. Larger pages would mean more space for larger illustrations. However, aside from this the content of the stories is interesting and in some cases humorous. Stories range from ‘A Tale of Two Mice’, ‘Dudu’s Wonderful Dream’ and ‘The Taming of the Goats’. The Story called ‘Why Fowl Live with People’ is a humorous story about the friendship of four birds that goes bad after a crooked business deal. Huku (who is the fowl) persuades his four friends (Gwari, Gondo and Hanga) to enter a groundnut selling business based in the Rimuka Forest. Huku discovers this miracle seed, the ground nut, in a dream revealed to him by his ancestors. His three trusted friends join him in the business and profits begin to soar. However, Huku becomes greedy and he persuades his friends to enter into another agreement. Unfortunately this agreement makes Huku rich but his friends become poorer and poorer over the years. Eventually the friends come to their senses and realise how cruel Huku has been to them. In anger they drive greedy Huku out of the Rimuka forest. Greedy Huku finds refuge with people, far away from the forest, hence the title of the story ‘Why Fowl live with people!’ However, the story leaves one with a dislike for fowl and their greedy ancestors!

  Uncle Blen Blen definitely has some good story ideas that can definitely be enjoyed by both children and adults. The book is available as a print on demand (POD) title at Amazon.com and most internet bookstores.