Africa’s Big 5 Series: #2
Izwi Lami - My Voice
OVERTURE - Amatikulu, Zululand, July 1940
Reaching out from beneath his tattered kaross, the old man stirred his fire with a blackened poker. Placing a fresh log, he lowered himself onto his carved stool. In the flickering glow, pregnant with expectation, an audience had gathered to hear his tale.
In the time-honored ways of the Zulu storyteller, the old man paused, waiting for the echo of his ancestors to find their seat among the living. Just then, the fluted call of a nightjar reached them from beyond the cast of the firelight. Khona manjalo, his words began to flow.
The old man’s eyes glazed over as he started recounting those momentous events, over 60 years earlier, which defined his youth and changed his life.
Izwi Lami is his story.
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Inspired by authors like Rudyard Kipling and Edgar Rice Burroughs, Gary Albyn continues to capture the essence of a wild continent. Following his acclaimed saga 'Manzovo-Place of the Elephants', the author set about creating yet another African tale, this time breathing life into a pulsating Zulu allegory.
With shades of Kipling's 'The Jungle Book,' and Disney's 'The Lion King,' he has created a saga that is worthy of the silver screen. In this, the second collaboration with a world-renowned wildlife artist, Albyn's 'Izwi Lami' showcases the works of award-winning South African wildlife artist, Fuz Caforio.
Reviews
As I read Izwi Lami, the voice I heard was not that of a poet but rather the deep primal sing-song voice of a traditional imbongi chanting the words of warriors and wild predators. I could hear the deep invocation of an assembled impi, intoning their approval. All that was missing was the smash of a thousand spear shafts against hardened leather shields—the rhythmic beat of a warrior pulse.
Foreword - GG AlcockA masterpiece of heritage, poetry and artistry. Izwi Lami is not simply a book—it's an experience. Echoing the chants of the imbongi—the royal Zulu praise singer—Albyn's words throb with rhythm and reverence. Alive with the scent of dust, rain and blood, this epic story is a living testament to the soul of the Zulu nation.
Facebook - Greg VogtBeautifully illustrated by Fuz Caforio, 'Izwi Lami' is way more than a poem; it is a pulsating Zulu elegy that weaves tradition, world history and clashing cultures into a nineteenth century tapestry of war, greed and pride. But beneath the surface of Gary Albyn's narrative lies a profound reflection on our responsibility to protect the natural order.
Book Review - Elize DekkerGary Albyn's epic story, Izwi Lami, delves into the heart and soul of the Zulu nation with exquisite precision. Capturing the zeitgeist of the late 19th century, the story of a boy on the verge of manhood is subtly counterpoised by the defiant roar of a kingdom that would not yield. Melding pathos with urgency, the story gallops headlong towards its two converging showdowns: one between two proud armies; the other between a boy and a leopard.
Facebook - Bruce Spargo