14 Books Published by Catalyst Press on AALBC — Book Cover Collage

From debut Zimbabwean writer Tsitsi Mapepa comes the saga of the four Taha sisters, and the indomitable matriarch who carried her daughters— and her community—through times of drought and violence in their Harare neighborhood.

From the red soil of her garden in Southgate 1, a crowded suburb of Harare, Nyeredzi watches the world. She knows not to venture beyond the grasses that fence them off from the bush, where the city’s violent criminals and young lovers claim the night. But on this red soil, she is sovereign. It is here where she learns how to kill snakes, how to fight off a man, and how to take what she is due. It is here where Nyeredzi and her three older sisters are raised, and where they will each find a different destiny.

Decades prior, a young woman abandons a position of great power to seek justice in the second Chimurenga War, only to return to find her world in shambles. So Zuva Mutongi sets off to build a world of her own, raising four daughters—Nyeredzi, Hannah, Abigail, and Ruth—and defending them from the evils beyond their small Harare home. But when a letter from her long-estranged brother calls her back to a past life, Zuva must reconcile with her duty and heal the broken community she left behind.

Tsitsi Mapepa’s vibrant debut is the history of a new Zimbabwe, with resilient women and men who raised a nation from its ashes. It is the chronicle of an L-shaped house, long awaited and much beloved, and the guests, welcome and unwelcome, who cross its threshold. It is the coming-of-age of four sisters, who will discover the secrets of womanhood on the volatile streets of Harare. But above all, it is a love song to one woman— a soldier, healer, chief, and mother—whose fierce devotion to her people is a testament to the bonds of blood that bind us all.

Winner, Outstanding Fiction Book Prize, National Arts Merit Awards (Zimbabwe)
Longlist, 2023 Sunday Times Literary Awards

From 2022 Windham Campbell Prize winner Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, comes the breathtaking conclusion to her multiple award-winning City of Kings trilogy, which includes "The Theory of Flight" and "The History of Man". Afrocritik praises it as, "Perhaps the most monumental trilogy to come out of Southern Africa."

Everyone saw Emil Coetzee drive into the bush on the day the ceasefire was announced. An array of individuals witnessed it: Beatrice, who was comforting her friend Kuki over the loss of her son and marriage; Dikeledi, the unyielding postwoman; Tom, the impersonator making a living by pretending to be Emil in backroads bars; Vida de Villiers, caught in a pivotal decision; and others. However, no one saw him return.

Thus unfolds the investigation led by Spokes Moloi, the first black chief inspector in the City of Kings. On the brink of his retirement, he is handed one last case: the potential murder of Mr. Coetzee, the infamous head of the Organization of Domestic Affairs, who vanished as the country stood on the cusp of independence. The inquiry into Emil’s disappearance sets Spokes on a collision course with a diverse cast of witnesses harboring both good and bad intentions.

The landscape of the investigation is marred by corruption and public fascination with Emil. As Spokes delves deeper, he encounters individuals eager to frame guerrilla icon Golide Gumede for Emil’s murder and a populace entranced by Emil, struggling to come to terms with the newfound future.

Haunted by thoughts of his dearly beloved wife Loveness and with a nation undergoing monumental changes, Spokes finds himself journeying to the roots of the case. In the process, he unearths connections to a two-decade-old unsolved murder case that shaped both his life and the destiny of his nation. This compelling narrative offers Spokes a final opportunity to find closure, unraveling secrets that hold the key to the future of his country.

From 2022 Windham Campbell Prize winner Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, comes the complete collection of her multiple award-winning City of Kings trilogy, including The Theory of Flight, The History of Man, and The Quality of Mercy. "Perhaps the most monumental trilogy to come out of Southern Africa" (Afrocritik).

In The Theory of Flight, Ndlovu sketches decades of history in an unnamed Southern African nation through the story of Imogen "Genie" Zula Nyoni, who lies in a coma after battling a long illness. As loved ones struggle to come to terms with their impending loss, Ndlovu recounts the lives of Genie’s forebears from colonial occupation through the freedom struggle.

In The History of Man, Ndlovu takes readers on an excursion into the interiority of the colonizer. Emil Coetzee, a civil servant in his fifties, finds himself unmoored by the end of his country’s civil war. His journey from boyhood to manhood, characterized by experiences of love, loss, and war, creates a trajectory marked by bloodshed.

The concluding volume, The Quality of Mercy, brings us into the world of Spokes Moloi, the first black chief inspector in the City of Kings. Moloi is tasked with investigating the possible murder of Emil Coetzee, the infamous head of the Organization of Domestic Affairs. In delving into the details surrounding Emil’s disappearance, Spokes grasps at one last chance to resolve a decades-old murder case that significantly shaped his life and the destiny of his nation.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Part of Niki Daly’s Lolo series

More fun is on the way for Lolo in Fly High, Lolo, the fourth book in Niki Daly’s Lolo series for beginning readers. Lolo is kind-hearted, creative, full of joy, and— whether it’s making homemade Christmas decorations from recycled plastics, or stepping in when the school play goes awry—she always knows just what to do to save the day!

In this collection of easy-to-read stories, we meet Lolo, a girl who lives in South Africa with her mother and grandmother, Gogo. Charmingly illustrated by the author, Fly High, Lolo follows Lolo as she explores her world, and the new adventures each day brings.

In Fly High, Lolo, Lolo gets an unexpected role in the school play, meets Miss Teen the Beauty Queen, goes on a beach clean-up with Mama’s new friend, and makes beautiful recycled Christmas decorations.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
A 2023 Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book
Winner of the 2022 South African Literary Awards Children’s Literature Award
Honorable mention, 2023 Children’s Africana Book AwardsA Cooperative Children’s Book Center 2023 Choices Pick From award winning children’s writer Niki Daly, author and illustrator of the Lolo early reader series

Whether it’s jumping in puddles with Tata in the rain, greeting the neighborhood cat on the quiet back streets with Gogo, or holding hands with Mama while rushing to make the bell, walking to school with family is the best. But nothing is better than walking to school with Papa. From high above, resting on Papa’s shoulders, all of the town is in perfect view, and Papa always says "I love you" when he says goodbye.

A sweet ode to fatherhood and the special relationships children share with each member of their family, On My Papa’s Shoulders reminds us that it’s not about where we’re going, but rather the people who walk with us along the way.

* A Kirkus Reviews Best YA Book of 2022
* A USBBY 2023 Outstanding International Book
* A 2022 Foreword INDIES Finalist
* Honorable mention, 2023 Children’s Africana Book Awards

All Rise: Resistance and Rebellion in South Africa revives six true stories of resistance by marginalized South Africans against the country’s colonial government in the years leading up to Apartheid. In six parts―each of which is illustrated by a different South African artist―All Rise shares the long-forgotten struggles of ordinary, working-class women and men who defended the disempowered during a tumultuous period in South African history. From immigrants and miners to tram workers and washerwomen, the everyday people in these stories bore the brunt of oppression and in some cases risked their lives to bring about positive change for future generations.

This graphic anthology breathes new life into a history dominated by icons, and promises to inspire all readers to become everyday activists and allies. The diverse creative team behind All Rise, from an array of races, genders, and backgrounds, is a testament to the multicultural South Africa dreamed of by the heroes in these stories―true stories of grit, compassion, and hope, now being told for the first time in print.

From 2022 Windham Campbell Prize winner Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu

Book 2 in the City of Kings trilogy, including her multiple award-winning debut novel The Theory of FlightSet in a southern African country that remains unnamed, this evocative narrative portrays human vulnerability with a blend of empathy, generosity, and a gentle narrative approach, offering a deep dive into the psyche of the colonizer.

As we meet Emil Coetzee, a civil servant navigating his fifties, he is seen cleansing his hands of blood as a ceasefire comes into effect. The end of the conflict leaves him, like many others, feeling lost and devoid of a clear purpose, a stark contrast to the identity and resolve the war had bestowed upon him. The reader is compelled to question the circumstances that led Emil on such a divergent path from his parents, who reveled in the joyous rhythms of the Charleston and the foxtrot in their youthful days. A sentiment of nostalgia seeps in as we reminisce about a younger Emil who found solace and wonder in the embracing arms of the singing elephant grass in the savannah.

In this sequel that continues the vibrant tapestry of interconnected narratives initiated in her acclaimed novel, The Theory of Flight, Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu guides us through decades of history witnessed through Emil’s evolving perspectives from childhood to adulthood. It is a journey marked with transformation, where Emil grapples with the profound impacts of love, the voids created by loss, and the transformative experiences of war.

With a narrative rich in sympathy, complexity, and sharp insights, The History of Man delves deep into exploring the essence of individuality, the responsibilities and legacies of fatherhood, and the collective history that shapes a nation.

Dissent, disease, disaster: introducing Disruption, a short story collection from new and emerging African writers, many appearing for the first time on North American shelves. Spanning genres, eras, and the vast landscape of the African continent — traversing Libya, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, and beyond — these 21 futuristic, evocative tales resonate profoundly with the theme of disruption.

The narratives bring a distinctive African perspective to global issues that dominate our current times and pervade our deepest concerns: climate change, pandemics, social upheaval, and surveillance, to name a few. Drawing upon a rich tapestry of experiences and imaginations, these stories grant readers a vivid glimpse into worlds both haunting and revelatory, offering fresh insights into the human condition through the lens of African storytelling.

Part of Niki Daly’s Lolo series

Lolo’s back for a whole new set of adventures in You’re a Star, Lolo, the third book in Niki Daly’s Lolo series for beginning readers. Whether it’s turning her garden into a snail farm when snails eat up her precious tomato plant, or using her hair ribbons to save the day when a friend’s car breaks down - there’s a unique solution to every problem, and Lolo is going to find it!

These stories invite young readers into the life and adventures of fun-loving, clever, and curious Lolo, a young girl living in South Africa. Along with her mother and grandmother, Gogo, she can always find a way to make the best out of any situation— even when things don’t go as planned.

In You’re a Star, Lolo, join Lolo as she makes her mom an extra-special soup, goes on vacation with her Gogo, and even tracks down the scary Ghorra-Ghorra-Hoooaaah-Bwoooooo-Monster sound she keeps hearing at night!

2022 Shortlist, Hurston/Wright Legacy AwardWinner, Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in AfricaWinner, 2011 Herman Charles Bosman AwardWinner, Sunday Times Fiction PrizeWinner, The Sunday Times Literary Award.

Sipho, a 17-year-old from the Umlazi township, drops out of high school and joins a car hijacking syndicate to make a name for himself and escape his family’s low-income life. Along with hijacking partners Musa and Vusi, Sipho learns the tricks of the dangerous trade and pushes deeper into the underbelly of Umlazi under the guidance of gang leader Sibani, while partying heavily and juggling different women nightly alongside his longtime girlfriend Nana.

Candid and unapologetic, Young Blood is the story of the intricate balance of circumstance and choice, swift gain and incredible loss, as Sipho finds out how far he can push his luck before the damage is irrevocable - and the consequences deadly. Both a red-hot crime novel of car heists, sex, and rival gangs and a coming of age story of a teenager navigating the costs of the fast life, Young Blood reveals the devastating violence and raw beauty of life in South Africa’s townships.

From 2022 Windham Campbell Prize winner Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu

Book 1 in the City of Kings trilogy

As Imogen Zula Nyoni, also known as Genie, lies immobile in a coma at Mater Dei Hospital, a consequence of a prolonged illness, the impending tragedy of her potential departure hangs heavy on her close-knit circle of family and friends. The tale unveils the enigmatic life of Genie, a being endowed with powers that defy the constraints of time and space, allowing her to weave a rich tapestry of experiences that transcend conventional boundaries.

The narrative intricately intertwines with the vivid tales of her predecessors: Baines Tikiti, a man whose restless spirit and name alterations led him to the waters of the Indian Ocean; Livingstone Stanley Tikiti, who adopted the wartime alias of Golide Gumede and fostered an unyielding fascination with the concept of flight; and the vibrant Elizabeth Nyoni, Golide’s spouse, who embraced a Dolly Parton-inspired persona complete with a signature blonde wig.

Employing a delicate narrative touch enhanced with magical-realist aesthetics, the novel delicately navigates through the historical tapestries of a few families while shedding light on the rich and turbulent history of an unnamed Southern African nation. The journey traverses through vital epochs of the nation’s past: the colonial era, the intense freedom struggle, to the harrowing periods marked by the invasion of the sojas, the devastation brought forth by the HIV virus, and the authoritative reign of "The Man Himself".

With an undercurrent of mystery and a sprinkle of magical elements, The Theory of Flight stands as an honest reflection on the multifaceted ways we prematurely mourn the living, illustrating the heartbreaking process of letting go before the inevitable goodbye.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Part of Niki Daly’s Lolo series

Hooray! Hurrah! Hurray! for Lolo, the energetic, curious, and fun-loving girl at the center of Niki Daly’s series of books for beginning readers. She’s thoughtful, funny, and always ready for anything. Whether it’s helping to babysit baby Bongi or learning all about the library, she’s sure to do it with kindness and humor.

In this collection of easy-to-read stories, we meet Lolo, a girl who lives in South Africa with her mother and grandmother, Gogo. Charmingly illustrated by the author, Hooray for Lolo follows Lolo as she explores her world, and the new adventures each day brings.

In Hooray for Lolo, Lolo she gets angry with her best friend, finds a favorite library book, goes to the hospital, and helps to look after Baby Bongi.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Part of Niki Daly’s Lolo series

For Lolo, every day’s a new adventure. Whether it’s earning gold stars at school or returning a lost ring, she’s ready for anything. Follow along with Lolo as she learns lessons about sharing, being brave, and being a good friend.

In these easy-to-read stories, we meet the curious, fun-loving, adventurous Lolo, a girl living in South Africa with her mother and grandmother, Gogo. Woven with heart and humor, and illustrated with charming black-and-white drawings, these stories are perfect for the beginning reader.

In Here Comes Lolo, Lolo gets a gold star at school, longs for a cute floppy hat, finds a missing ring, and helps to rescue a dog, all with her trademark humor and quirky style.

• Winner of the South African Literary Award First Time Author Prize
• Shortlisted for the Etisalat Prize for Literature
• Featured in the New York Times’ Globetrotting sneak preview of books coming out in 2019 from around the world
• One of Seven new and noteworthy fiction titles about South Africa The Globe and Mail

Leke is a troubled young man living in the suburbs of Cape Town. He develops strange habits of stalking people, stealing small objects and going from doctor to doctor in search of companionship rather than cure. Through a series of letters written to him by his Nigerian father whom he has never met, Leke learns about a family curse; a curse which his father had unsuccessfully tried to remove. Bom Boy is a well-crafted, and complex narrative written with a sensitive understanding of both the smallness and magnitude of a single life.