Izinkanyezi Ezintsha (Paperback)

Izinkanyezi Ezintsha is the first-ever anthology of isiZulu speculative fiction featuring seven short stories that bend the imagination, take us on magical journeys, and make us look at our own world from different eyes. With fantastical battles, journeys into lonely forests, dogs that talk politics and more, Izinkanyezi Ezintsha redefines South African speculative fiction.

iMpi kaSikhulumi noHlokohloko: A fable about cruel King Hlokohloko, who casts out his son from the kingdom as a child. Sikhulumi is raised by a forest hermit, Hlekehlathini, whose nation are the animals, creatures and monsters of the forest. An epic battle ensues when Sikhulumi becomes a young man, and calls the nation of the forest to fight King Hlokohloko for stealing their land and exiling them to the forest regions.

uZuzile: Zuzile is left on her own when her grandmother, with whom she lives alone on an isolated farm, passes away. When confronted with the passing of her grandmother, a magical dove visits her, sending her a message that her mother, Thenjiwe, is still alive, and tells young Zuzu to follow it to her. The journey is fraught with danger as Zuzile must travel through a forest of giants to reach her.

uNtsika eZweni leseThembiso: A historical fiction fantasy, ‘uNtsika eZweni leseThembiso’ follows Ntsika and Nkanyezi, brother and sister, and their journey to find one another after one night, their village is attacked and destroyed in flames. Ntsika finds himself in a strange and hidden nation far from home – the Land of Peace. But this nation holds no comfort for Ntsika who cannot rest until he finds Nkanyezi, and he does everything he possibly can to do so. This story is being adapted into a Young Adult novel under the same title. iNgulube kaGudla: ‘iNgulube kaGudla’ is a fun, humorous and witty fable about a hunter, Gudla, feared by all the animals of the forest, and a wild pig, Bhedu, who cannot outrun him like all the other animals. When Gudla comes into the forest one day, singing his signature hunting song, Bhedu comes up with a clever plan to trick the hunter and save his life.

Kwakungcono eGibhithe: ‘Kwakungcono eGibhithe’ is the story of Shizboy, a dog whose family has moved from uMlazi into the suburbs. Having grown tired of the dull scraps his family’s new vegan diet produces, and the vibrancy of Mlazi, Shizboy ventures out of their new home and tries to find his way back to the township. However, things are not as easy as he expects when he comes across some of his old friends who are sceptical of Shizboy’s motivations to leave the luxury and privilege of the suburbs.

iNgwenya enoMusa: A fable in semi-traditional style, ‘iNgwenya enoMusa’ is a story about a crocodile-infested river where one crocodile in particular has a kind heart, and protects the children who swim in the river on hot days. But a hungry monitor-lizard, Xamu, has trouble on his mind when he seeks to distract the kind Crocodile long enough to take a bite…

iMpumelelo yeziNkomo eNkantolo: Fed up with poor working conditions and no cut of the profits, the cows, chickens and trees of Mntungwa’s farm take Mntungwa to court. A metaphorical fable about land, economy and rights, ‘iMpumelelo yeziNkomo eNkantolo’ is a fascinating take on folk-tales with a contemporary twist.