8 Books Published by The Mantle on AALBC — Book Cover Collage

In pre-colonial South Africa, Khama is a young man destined to lead the mighty Amakonko tribe. But first he must contend with a deceiving uncle who has the same designs. From exile Khama builds an army to regain his rightful place at the head of his tribe, before moving to conquer the surrounding lands. With his army and a startling aptitude for military genius, Khama will eventually grow from mortal to legend. KHAMA is inspired by the story of the renowned king Shaka Zulu.

Literary Nonfiction. Post-Colonial Studies. Education. African Studies. "Upright African, we need a revolution in education to take our history back into our hands, and to perform it through our eyes for humanity and ourselves. Without question, our African histories are under siege by those who would rather we believed that Africa has no history and that colonialism is over."—From DEAR UPRIGHT AFRICAN

"In this manifesto, Donald Molosi shows us what a decolonized Africa would look like. This matter is vital for people in school today. It is this sort of activism that our continent needs now."—Binyavanga Wainaina

"Palpably outraged, Molosi reminds us—sharing vivid examples—of how the metaphysical and physical engagement of empire with the African continent formed a carefully orchestrated strategy whose end result was to inflict large numbers of Africans, including African elites, with a chronic, debilitating self-hatred. Drawing form his extensive reading on the subject, Molosi offers practical remedies for the devastating crisis he chronicles."—Tsitsi Dangarembga

Desperate to make ends meet, Ombima commits a “harmless” crime. When he tries to conceal his misdeed, the simple farm laborer becomes a reluctant participant in a sinister affair. If discovered, the consequences could be disastrous for Ombima’s family, friends, and a spate of unwitting, gossipy villagers.

A delicious tale of greed, lust, and betrayal, Stanley Gazemba’s Forbidden Fruit is more than a dramatic tale of rural life in western Kenya. The moral slips and desperate cover-ups—sometimes sad, sometimes farcical—are the stories of time and place beyond the village of Maragoli. Gazemba’s novel, previously published in Kenya as The Stone Hills of Maragoli (Kwani? 2010), won the prestigious Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature.

Once in a while I come across a novel that affirms life, without cheapening it, or sensationalizing, a book that presents a human condition with such mastery it makes one proud to be alive…they are, for me, the sort of books that make literature great. —Binyavanga Wainaina

What makes [Forbidden Fruit] so special is that it has no pretensions about attempting to address issues of modernity, of city life, of “clash of cultures,” of the rural-urban divide…the issues it deals with are as immediate, even if they are beyond the gaze, beyond the limits of the urbanity that attracts most writers. —African Review of Books

Fiction. African & African American Studies. A young woman loses her grip on reality, destroyed by being the mistress of a powerful general. A pastor hides the innocent from marauding gangs hyped up by post- election fervor. A philosophy professor struggles against his better judgment to save everyone but himself. In present day Nigeria, there are many centers of the universe. Told from various points of view, THE SOUND OF THINGS TO COME departs from the strictures of linear narratives. Loosely centered on the activities of a church, the many colorfully drawn characters in Emmanuel Iduma’s breakthrough novel illuminate the complex interconnectedness of a community where individuals struggle through their own painful dramas. First published in 2012 as Farad in Nigeria, Iduma’s novel is the disruptive harbinger of Nigeria’s rising generation of writers.

Drama. African & African American Studies. History & Politics. WE ARE ALL BLUE is a collection of two plays—MOTSWANA: AFRICA, DREAM AGAIN and BLUE, BLACK AND WHITE—by the actor and playwright Donald Molosi, including an introduction by Quett Masire, former president of Botswana.

Drama. African & African American Studies. History & Politics. MOTSWANA: AFRICA, DREAM AGAIN is the story of Botswana and its people as they transition from a British colony to an independent state. The play premiered off-Broadway in 2012 where it won an award at the United Solo Festival, the world’s largest solo theatre festival. Written, directed, and performed by Molosi, the play has been performed across the US and is on tour in Botswana and South Africa.

Drama. African & African American Studies. History & Politics. BLUE, BLACK AND WHITE, the longest running one-man show in Botswana’s history, was the first-ever Botswana play staged off-Broadway in New York City, where Molosi won a best actor award. BLUE, BLACK AND WHITE is about the country’s first democratically- elected president, Sir Seretse Khama, and his interracial, transformative marriage. Winner of several awards, the play has been performed around the world.

Fiction. African & African American Studies. Anthology. Hybrid Genre. GAMBIT: NEWER AFRICAN WRITING is a unique collection of nine interviews and original short stories by emerging writers from across Africa. The stories in this anthology reflect the nuances that arise from living in a post-postcolonial Africa, where stereotypes are crumbling and writers are willing to tackle themes that are more social than political. Unlike other anthologies of African writing, GAMBIT’s contributors are mostly based in their home countries, putting them closer to the themes they lyrically confront. The interviews provide insight into the writers’ inspirations, fears, hopes, and craft. The short stories reveal a range of experiences that are alive with grace, resilience, and humor. GAMBIT is one way to rediscover today’s writing from the African continent.

Contributors include: Abdul Adan (Somalia), Ayobami Adebayo (Nigeria), Dami Ajayi (Nigeria), Richard Ali (Nigeria), < ahref="https://aalbc.com/authors/author.php?author_name=Abubakar+Adam+Ibrahim">Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (Nigeria), Dango Mkandawire (Malawi), Donald Molosi (Botswana), Novuyo Rosa Tshuma (Zimbabwe), Suzanne Ushie (Nigeria).