Today we talk about My Zambian Folktales and Geo-Tales, a book by Mulamba Chibesakunda published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author, Mulamba Chibesakunda, to get to know her better, where she found the inspiration to write her book My Zambian Folktales and Geo-Tales, as well as the importance of illustrations in a children’s book.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Where did you find the inspiration to talk about Zambian tales?
I found the inspiration to talk about Zambian tales when I was young and enjoyed reading many stories which unfortunately, were not originating from my country and continent. During that time, I had the opportunity to spend time with my grandmother and enjoy the stories that she would tell me. The combination of longing for my identity to be placed in a book and my origin to be archived between those pages became a dream that has finally turned into a reality.
- How important do you think illustrations are in a children’s book?
I think illustrations give children faces of characters that they would look up to and it’s important for them to see through the author’s eyes. An illustration is the foundation of a Child’s daydream which opens the mind to a greater imagination. It helps the child journey through a new world of many possibilities.
- What would you like to hear from your young and adult readers?
I would like to hear that young and adult readers learnt something new from my stories and enjoyed them. I would be happy to hear that I inspired someone to become helpful to their community through my stories. And I would be thrilled to know that families got to spend time together and share their opinions about my stories.
- How did it feel to see your book published?
It felt very scary to see my book published because I felt like I had reached a new level which was not my comfort zone. It is easier to imagine than to put in the work, but when hard work shows results, it leaves doubt as to whether I really did my best. It’s the perfectionist within me that panics but the optimistic part of me is happy to know that I have reached this far.
- Are you working on new writing projects that you can tell us about?
I am working on more books in the same series; My Zambian folktales and fireflies; My Zambian folktales and hero-tales; My Zambian folktales and funnytales; My Zambian folktales and guinea fowls. The most recent book I’m working on apart from the series is a story entitled, ‘The Crocodile of three rivers,’ which takes the reader into my own village 200 years ago. It is a story about a young boy who is attacked by a crocodile and vows revenge. As the crocodile terrorises the whole village, the boy grows up studying the ways of his enemy in order to defeat it. It’s a story about two apex predators (man and crocodile) clashing because one has to survive at the expense of the other. The story pays homage to my great, great grandfather who was exiled but went back to his Chiefdom and fought back his throne at a ripe old age. He died before his army won but his sacrifice gave the throne back to his people.
Europe Books thanks the author, Mulamba Chibesakunda, once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside her on the editorial path that led to the publication of her book My Zambian Folktales and Geo-Tales. We wish her the best of luck for her future works.
To you, my readers, may this book be a great source of inspiration for everyone, may it amuse you and delight your reading. And remember that, no matter how adult you are, books for children have a lot to teach us all! Written in simple and clear concepts, illustrated children’s book have the ability to give us important life lessons or they put us back in touch with our forgotten child side which just needs to be awakened.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!