King Shaka: Zulu Legend

by Sibongiseni Mkhize (Foreword by)

Overview

Shaka has fought his brother to the death for rulership of the Zulu. Now king of the southern chiefdoms, Shaka seeks to uplift his people, consolidate alliances, and expand the reach of his power. But challenges both external and internal threaten his rule. A rogue military unit exacts revenge on its enemies. Land-hungry Europeans arrive and ingratiate themselves with Shaka, even while plotting their own path to power. And closer to home, Shaka’s own brothers conspire in secret.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781946498939
Publisher:	Catalyst Press
Publication date:	10/01/2019
Series:	African Graphic Novel Series
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	1,134,091
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Luke W. Molver is a writer & illustrator who believes comic books are the purest language of imagination. He lives in Durban, on the verdant east coast of South Africa, where reality continues to interfere with his life. He is the author/illustrator for Shaka Rising: A Legend of the Warrior Prince, which the Wall Street Journal called admirable and nuanced.

Dr Sibongiseni Mkhize is the Chief Executive Officer of the South African State Theatre in Pretoria, South Africa.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Praise for Shaka Rising: A Legend of the Warrior Prince
(the first in the African Graphic Novel Series)

“A worthy introduction that offers a young Anglophone audience entry into a legend of Africa” — Kirkus

“Deftly written and superbly illustrated by Luke Molver, Shaka Rising: A Legend of the Warrior Prince is a truly extraordinary and entertaining graphic novel that will decidedly prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library graphic novel collections for readers ages 16 to 86.” — Midwest Book Review

“The men and women in this story are shown with admirable nuance, as the principal actors in their own lives and era rather than as moving parts in a modern-day morality play. A sequel is planned for this first installment of Shaka’s story, which itself marks the launch of a welcome historical graphic-novel series set in Africa.”– Meghan Cox Gurdon, Wall Street Journal

“Shaka Rising is a groundbreaking graphic novel. It belongs on school and home shelves. And the hope is that the series to follow will be equally professional, educational, and entertaining.” — New York Journal of Books

“The story moves briskly, and the language is vivid and dramatic. […] [Shaka Rising] is worth adding to collections” — School Library Journal

“[T]he intrigue of the story and the intensity of the character are well fleshed-out. This is a tale comics has heretofore not done justice to, and it’s handsomely presented here. — Booklist

Editorial Reviews

Authentically enlightening and entertaining.” —Kirkus

“King Shaka: Zulu Legend is an exciting read about a strong-willed ruler who faced enormous challenges, and thoroughly engrossing from cover to cover. Highly recommended, as is the previous graphic novel in this two-part series, Shaka Rising.” —Midwest Book Review

"King Shaka is educational and enjoyable, illuminating overlooked historical events. It’s the perfect addition for school libraries looking to offer new perspectives on the past." —Foreword Reviews

"... a bright, brilliant, dark, and turbulent story ..." —New York Journal of Books

"Shaka's story, having been largely passed down through oral tradition, is impeccably researched. Molver's sweeping, epic scenes highlight the importance of Shaka's presence in African history, and the dark, rich colors intensify the underlying struggle between colonial influences and Shaka's quest to defend the Zulu culture. An engaging, panoramic introduction to an important figure in African history. Recommended for collections serving older teens." —School Library Journal

"The graphic novels – Shaka Rising and the sequel, King Shaka – are imaginative, engaging, and innovative ways of narrating the legend of Shaka [...] Characterization of the people in these comic books is very appealing. The illustrations are superbly designed, colorful, and support the storyline concisely. Molver shows deep understanding of Zulu history and culture. [...] Highly Recommended."— Africa Access Review

From the Publisher

10/01/2019

Gr 7 Up—In this title that begins where the first book in the series concluded, King Shaka, legendary 19th-century leader of the Zulu nation, has established his people as the dominant power in southern Africa. After securing unity among smaller, neighboring clans, Shaka redoubles his efforts to replenish resources and ensure a secure future for the Zulu people. Despite a brief time of peace and prosperity, rumors soon surge that the Iziyendane, a displaced clan gone rogue, is destroying Zulu allies, hoping to thwart Shaka's power over the region. Facing this new threat, Shaka cautiously allows shipwrecked British settlers to take refuge in his capital, adding to the simmering discontent growing within Shaka's close ranks. King Shaka's portrayal is nuanced; the story highlights his past and how it relates to his ascension to power. Extensive supplemental notes provide context for those unfamiliar with King Shaka or African history; readers will find the illustrated list of characters helpful in navigating the numerous cast. Shaka's story, having been largely passed down through oral tradition, is impeccably researched. Molver's sweeping, epic scenes highlight the importance of Shaka's presence in African history, and the dark, rich colors intensify the underlying struggle between colonial influences and Shaka's quest to defend the Zulu culture. VERDICT An engaging, panoramic introduction to an important figure in African history. Recommended for collections serving older teens.–Elise Martinez, Zion-Benton Public Library, IL

School Library Journal

2019-07-13
Following on Shaka Rising (2018), this volume further explores the legend of King Shaka, founder of the Zulu nation.

Much research has been done by South African Molver to trace the particulars of Shaka's life from his birth in the 1780s until his death in 1828. Zulu culture was an oral one, passing down history through the telling of stories, which led to multiple versions of the truth even as the "ignorance or bias" of European written records was understood to be historical fact. Recognizing its own narrative as simply one telling of the story, this book focuses on the last decade of his reign, when external and internal threats challenged his prominence. There's the arrival of conspiring European settlers and even a bit of nefarious plotting among the siblings who envy Shaka's throne. Woven throughout are key terms from isiZulu, along with symbolism inherent to Zulu supernatural beliefs, giving readers a deeply contextual immersion in the cultural foundations of the Zulu people who today represent almost a quarter of South Africa's population. The illustrations show stern and stalwart faces and display the brutal, inflamed action of war. The overwhelming global success of Marvel's Black Panther is echoed in the final image, which, in opposition to the story's historical specificity, feels generic and tame.

Authentically enlightening and entertaining. (historical notes, timeline, cultural and linguistic notes, discussion questions, glossary, pronunciation guide) (Graphic historical fiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews