Mella and the N'anga
An African Tale
by Gail Nyoka

Mella lives in the long-ago time when the place we now call Zimbabwe was known as the Land of the People. Within the great hilltop town of Mopopoto, Mella's beloved father, the King, lies gravely ill. Beyond the high stone walls, the land has been overcome by drought and unrest grows between the warrior tribes of the kingdom. Senior sister, one of the wisest elders in the town, has taught Mella the forbidden song that will call the Great N'anga, a strange and powerful figure who is viewed with suspicion by most townspeople. Mella learns from the N'anga that the only way to restore her father's health is to seek out the much-feared Python Healer, a perilous journey that few would undertake. When Mella's brother, the warrior Dikita, fails to bring back the Python Healer, Mella knows there is only one thing to do: she must face the Python Healer herself. In this tale of courage and wisdom, Gail Nyoka brings to life a mythic time and gives us a fascinating glimpse of society in ancient Africa.