Zakes Mda celebrated the launch of his book Little Suns on 11 February at Love Books with an audience that was completely enamoured with the prolific writer.
The event was an intimate one that allowed the audience to feel as close to the writer as they wanted to. The host of the event was poet Mbali Vilikazi who not only captivated the audience with her interpretation of the book, but also helped lead the audience into the psyche of Mda and why he wrote the book in his particular style.
The book is both factual and fictional and is set in 18th century South Africa. “Some characters are real, like Mamane, who was actually my great-great grandmother,” said Mda. He went on to talk about her and explained that she became king after her father passed away, making it that the first-born child was heir to the throne. Mamane became the heir but was staunch in her beliefs that she should be called king and not queen. He further explained that she went on to live her life like any king would, marrying a woman and even having a child with her.
The evening was made special by Mda sharing sentiments of his upbringing and the culture of creative freedom that seemed to join him and his family every time they sat around the fire creating improvisational stories – strategically placing the reality of some experiences with thoughts only one’s wildest imagination could conjure.
“I met Gabriel Marquez in Spain at a conference once and I asked him where he gets his magic from? He said from his grandmother then he said, do you know where she got it from? He said she got it from an African slave,” said Mda.
He then concluded that this showed what he had always been certain of, that all magic stems from African grandmothers.
Details:Love books, info@lovebooks.co.za or 011 726 7408.
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