Zakes Mda Master Story-teller

Zakes Mda as always packs a powerful punch in a gentle easy-to-read story. This work of historical fiction is set in New York in the 1880's where Em-Pee who has been recruited in Cape Town by the Great Faranini, performs in a number of New York freak shows as a savage Zulu. He falls in love with a Dinka princess who is similarly on display in a cage in Madison Square Gardens. Talking about the book Zakes says “We don’t know who the Zulus were – not even their names. I’m aiming to restore their humanity in my novel – to give them a name, life and perspective. These characters were created for me by history but in history they didn’t have names and lives”. The characters really come to life in the story so I believe he has achieved this aim. Em-Pee who is delightful, will stay with you a long time after finishing the book.