Weaving magic: Nolusindiso Dumezweni’s folktales for a new generation
Listening to her grandmother’s stories during childhood sparked Nolusindiso Dumezweni’s passion for crafting stories of her own. Nolusindiso grew up in Cofimvaba in the Eastern
In the world of publishing for tweens, a book’s cover isn’t just an aesthetic choice – it’s a portal inviting young readers into the story.
For our Zazi Books Kubomntwana titles, we knew we needed covers that would capture tweens’ imaginations and reflect the uniquely South African stories they contain.
Enter Mariapaola McGurk, a talented local artist whose contemporary papercutting style is the perfect fit for our vision.
Inspired by the timeless design and affordability of Penguin sixpence paperbacks, we want our Kubomntwana covers to be cost-effective, visually cohesive, and instantly recognisable. By distilling the design elements into a few core components – a consistent template, a simple colour palette to identify the book’s language, and a monochrome image that captures an essential element of each story – we aim to create a strong brand identity for the Kubomntwana series.
Using the papercutting talents of local artist Mariapaola McGurk was the truly inspired idea of Zazi Books’ commissioning editor for indigenous languages, Cullen Mackenzie.
“MP’s papercutting work,” Cullen says (“MP” is Cullen’s affectionate nickname for Mariapaola), “shows me that absences can be beautiful.”
Mariapaola, whose work is deeply influenced by her South African upbringing and Irish-Italian roots, has been perfecting her contemporary papercutting style for over a decade. Her ability to distil complex themes into striking, minimalist designs made her the ideal artist for our Kubomntwana series, and we’re thrilled with the artwork she has produced for our covers.
(Photo credit: Artyli Gallery)
In Xa kuTshon’ iLanga, Mariapaola’s delicate lizard silhouette is set against a stylised sunset sky, capturing a sense of resilience and adaptation in a changing world.
Xa kuTshon’ iLanga by Mariapaola McGurk
For Impi yeHlathi, Mariapaola’s towering tree evokes the forest that is the story’s setting, symbolising the deep roots of tradition and the strength of unity.
Impi yeHlathi by Mariapaola McGurk
And in MUTLAC FC, a soccer team portrayed in motion against the backdrop of Jozi pylons captures the energy and spirit of youth.
MUTLAC FC by Mariapaola McGurk
Witness Mariapaola’s creative process in these captivating stop-motion videos on YouTube and dive into the world of Kubomntwana, where every cover tells a story.
Creating the cover artwork for Xa kuTshon’ iLanga.
Creating the cover artwork for Impi yeHlathi.
Creating the cover artwork for MUTLAC FC & the Case of the Missing Soccer Ball.
Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes looks at our publishing journey!
Listening to her grandmother’s stories during childhood sparked Nolusindiso Dumezweni’s passion for crafting stories of her own. Nolusindiso grew up in Cofimvaba in the Eastern
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New South African indigenous-language imprint Zazi Books to publish captivating English-language sports mystery for tweens. [Johannesburg, South Africa, 7 June 2024]—Zazi Books,