When we were young, they taught us about Cinderella—the hapless girl who flees as the bell strikes midnight, leaving behind a lonely glass slipper. She is only saved by a prince.
They taught us about Little Red Riding Hood—the silly girl who wanders off the path and is swallowed whole by a wolf, together with her grandmother.
They taught us about Snow White—the girl who falls under a spell and is revived by a prince’s kiss.
But they never told us about Queen Nzinga, the Angolan warrior queen who bent armies to her will. They never told us about Amanirenas, the Kushite queen who sent the Romans fleeing with fire in her eyes. They never told us about Araweelo, the Somali heroine who ruled with courage and shattered chains of oppression. And they never told us about Mũmbi and her full nine magical daughters.
Mũmbi’s daughters, in Mũmbi and the Full Nine, do not lose glass slippers. They do not wait for knights in shining armour to save them. They summon storms, command beasts, and wield song like a sword.
Wanjirũ, the eldest, summons animals with a single whistle. Wangũi, the soloist, bends chaos with the power of her voice. Nyambura, the magical one, conjures rain with the blast of her twisted kudu horn.
Together, they rise against the tyrannical King Gĩkũyũ. For deep in their hearts burns the Eternal Fire—an ancient power that must never be extinguished.
If you are looking for African mythology books, strong African female characters, and powerful children’s stories rooted in Kikuyu folklore, then this is your call.
Get your copy of Mũmbi and the Full Nine at Nuria Bookshop, The Bazaar, Moi Avenue, Nairobi. Or get your copies from Amazon through the links below:
Kindle: amazon.com/dp/B0GMNZGLNB
Paperback: amazon.com/dp/9914780636