Mutendei Nabutete: Bringing African Mythology to the Table

Photo credit: John Triffo

Mutendei Nabutete is the author of Poetry Express, IdeaBankisms and upcoming African mythology adventure story, Shadow Kings: The Glory of Kings. He is a multi-faceted and talented Spoken Word Artist, Poet, Author, Playwright and Speechwriter who is dedicated to expressing and promoting the power of literary expression. Hear his journey as a self-published storyteller.

Tell us about your first two publications?
My first official book published was "The Poetry Express: What would I want to be?" which was a very successful intellectual and retrospective collection of poetry, adopted as a course text in York University in one of their sociology classes. The IdeaBankisms, was my second book released as an audiobook at the Ideology of Art launch event, comprising a collection of idioms and sayings that covers modern life, written in conjunction with the author Huey Markus.

Your third book is called, Shadow Walkers: The Glory of Kings. What inspired you to write this?
I believe that art, just like the work we do in everyday life must make a positive difference. In Western media we have an abundance of Eurocentric characters and mythology, but little representation of Afrocentric mythology despite the huge abundance of cultural legends and history.  In writing Shadow Walkers I wanted to expound upon the subjects of mythology and fantasy adventure from a predominately African perspective and create what I believe is the first of its kind; an historic mythological adventure story, rooted in past and modern times. 

Shadow Walkers is an adventure story, which is a departure from your previous publications; is this the type of books you have always wanted to write and why?

It is a departure from my other work as I always want to challenge myself as well as provide something new to the audience and connect to different fan bases. I wanted to write Shadow Walkers for sometime now and it has been a work in progress over the last three years. When I grew up in Kenya I was exposed to fantastic culture and legends, but today I see none of them represented on the same level as sagas like Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones and others, even though they definitely deserve to be. This was my main drive in getting Shadow Walkers to where it is today.

What’s been the hardest part about publishing your books?

The hardest part about publishing my books has been two things; costs, as well as getting them to the right audience and having them embrace it.

What’s been the best part about publishing your books?

I am going to answer that with a segment from one of my poems, Why I write!

"Consider the fact that you can hold a book in your hands, but how would you do the same with your oral history?" 

Any publication that you have put your mind, heart and soul into is an accomplishment and an add-on to history.

Any advice for those who are also trying to publish their work?

Don't quit; fight through any writer’s block and remember sometimes you have to bring the mountain to people for them to see it!   

How can people get a copy of your book?
The book is available as an e-book on amazon.com/kindlebooks, which is being updated this week. Printed copies will be available after October 17th.

You also have a launch event coming up, can you tell us a bit about that?

The launch event is named after the book; Shadow Walkers: The Glory of Kings, and it will feature several performers representing characters from the book, as well as their own artistic talents. It will be hosted by Jahte Le and take place at The 8.0.5 Studio, inside Dovercourt House, 805 Dovercourt Rd. It will be an exciting show with a red carpet and interviews and not to be missed!

Ways to get in touch with Mutendei:

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/574642169325985/

Twitter page: @maknproductions

Website: www.maknproductions.com

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