Listen?
Laugh?
Love?
Forgive?
Live?
Will you?
Tell me, will you?
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The people of Leo are as vast as soil particles, but all believe in the god, Mie, and they do their best to live peacefully with one another.
At the center of Fire, is the Royal family in Leo. While writing this book, my focus was on the Swahili culture and I used Kiswahili names for the characters and the places that are the setting of the story.
I believe that the Swahili culture is rich, not only in their sayings (methali) but also in their customs regarding marriage, social norms and respect for elders and even though I was never good in Kiswahili in school, I did look into it deeply to create the backbone of this story.
Allow me to introduce you to the first half of the characters in Fire:
- Uwezo, meaning,(Might or Ability), is the King of Leo.
- Ukweli, (Truth), is the Seer and happens to be King Uwezo’s older brother.
- Pendo, (Love), is the Queen of Leo. She is Uwezo’s wife.
- Ulioko, (Present, as in what’s present, or what’s there), is the Informer. His duty is to make the King aware of everything that is happening in the kingdom.
In Africa, most cultures and customs as diverse as they are, believed in many stages of life and it began at birth with the naming ceremony.
Children were named based on seasons, after a relative or ancestor, and in some cultures this was a festive time and it involved the whole community. It’s the basis of Fire, because the desire for a legacy begins when a young Prince is born.
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Leo is the kingdom of life, wealth and peace.
It is the land that is looked upon by others as the perfect example of what the gods expect of human beings while on earth. It’s the setting for the Currents series.
Every day we warm ourselves by fire
Wash ourselves in water
Feel the wind in our hair
Walk upon the earth
The first book in the series is titled “FIRE,” and it begins with the King’s desire for a legacy. His wife bears him a son whom he names Ustawi meaning “Legacy.”
Fire is available on Amazon; both Kindle and Paperback copies are available here.
Here’s what readers think of it:
At this age and time I didn’t know authenticity from our writers could still be expected but ‘Fire’ is a complete reminiscence of what pure art in literature ought to be/used to be.
Another reader had this to say:
My take on this: Buy it and read it and here’s why:
1. She uses Kiswahili, which gives the story a strong East African setting, and if you love the African culture and customs then you would be introduced to a kingdom where words are as rich in proverbs as our great ancestors talk were.
2. The plot and twist towards the end. It’s a subtle twist that’s enacted by Ukweli and it casts a shadow on his role as the protagonist in this story.
3. There is the kingdom informer known as Ulioko, who comes across as a very sneaky and power hungry man- and in reading Fire, you cannot help but ask where his loyalties lie.Fire is the first book in the four part series and it welcomes you to the land of Leo. There is a blend of African folklore and use of Swahili names, and in it’s own way, ushers you into a world where anything is possible with the birth of an heir.
nilichoandika 