Books: folklore and fantasy combine in Langabi, a supernatural historical epic from Zimbabwe
He’s the author of novels like Running with Mother (2012), Dancing with Life: Tales from the Township (2012) and They are Coming (2014).
- He’s the author of novels like Running with Mother (2012), Dancing with Life: Tales from the Township (2012) and They are Coming (2014).
- 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.
- I’m asking because it’s the first novel to be published by Mother, a new imprint of Jacana Media that’s dedicated to fantasy, science-fiction, Afrofuturism and horror.
- When I first started writing the story, I told myself I wanted to write something that sounded like folklore.
- I would like to place the story at the intersection of folklore, fantasy and mythology.
- I also read a few fantasy books just to get a feeling of how other writers handle this kind of writing.
- I might start working on the next book in the Langabi series at the end of this year; time will tell.
Gibson Ncube does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.