'The Mad', the translation into English of Ignatius T. Mabasa's Shona novel 'Mapenzi', soon to be published

 

amaBooks are soon to copublish Ignatius T. Mabasa's The Mad with Carnelian Heart Publishing in Zimbabwe and in the United Kingdom. The award-winning Shona novel Mapenzi has been translated into English by J. Tsitsi Mutiti, edited by Jane Morris and proofread by Samantha Vazhure. To quote Memory Chirere, 'When this novel first appeared, it brought to Shona literature the seduction and tyranny of storytelling. With this translation, the English speaking world will have the opportunity to experience the elegance of Ignatius Mabasa's writing.'

We are also delighted that this translation of Mapenzi has also been chosen as the first translated novel, in 2026, in the University of Georgia Press's African Language Literatures in Translation series, to be published in North America. As the series editor Christopher Ernest Ouma argues, 'The time is right for an initiative that publishes and promotes essential works of world literature written in African languages. As Ignatius Mabasa has said about the inclusion of The Mad in the series, 'I actually see the translation into English as a gain against Western hegemony ... Instead of an African story being forced by the capitalist world system and globalisation into English, the translation is a sign of respect to Shona people in wanting to understand their world view and the issues that trouble them.'

More information about the UGA series can be found here. 

Dr. Ignatius Mabasa, Storyteller, Writer and Academic, in Conversation with Trevor Ncube

Ignatius T. Mabasa in conversation with Trevor Ncube 

In this video (link in blue above), Trevor Ncube sits down with Dr. Ignatius Mabasa—a storyteller, writer, and academic. They discuss Mabasa's journey as the first Zimbabwean to write a PhD in Shona, the influences behind his books, and the beauty and power of storytelling. He also shares his experience translating literary works including Nervous Conditions from English to Shona. Mabasa's novel, Mapenzi, chosen in the Times Literary Supplement as one of the most significant novels to have come out of Africa, has been translated into English as The Mad by J. Tsitsi Mutiti and is to be published soon in Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom by amaBooks and Carnelian Heart Publishing, and, in 2026, in North America by the University of Georgia Press.

Bryony Rheam at North Books in Hay-on-Wye

Award-winning Zimbabwean writer Bryony Rheam will be in conversation with Richard Davies of Parthian Books at North Books, 4 Castle Street, Hay-on-Wye on Wednesday 23rd April, 6-7.30pm.  Whatever happened to Rick Astley? Come to 'the National Book Town of Wales' and find out, and enjoy wine and welsh cakes with one of Zimbabwe's leading writers.

Tickets are FREE but limited. Please email Jules on jules@northbooks.co.uk or pop into the shop to reserve your place.

Bryony Rheam was born in Kadoma, Zimbabwe, in 1974. Her first novel, This September Sun, was published in 2009 in Zimbabwe and 2013 in the UK. It won Best First Book at the Zimbabwean Publishers' Awards in 2010. Her second novel, All Come To Dust, was published in 2020. It is a crime novel set in Bulawayo. It won in the Best Fiction category at the Bulawayo Arts Awards in 2021 and a National Arts Merit Award in 2022. In 2023, her collection of short stories, Whatever Happened to Rick Astley? was published. “I enjoy reading crime novels – my favourite author is Agatha Christie - and literary fiction and love mixing the two in my writing,” she says.

This should be a fun, lively event and we hope you can join us in hearing Bryony talk about her writing journey and Parthian Press releasing its summer programme.

Bryony Rheam at North Books in Hay-on-Wye