Visuals and an excerpt from Romeo Sinkala’s ongoing comic brook project.
The year is 3033. Africa has lost everything—its healers, prophets, teachers, and warriors. It was on the cusp of realising prosperity before everything was taken.
Mtanda and Sorese were born in this time of war and anguish. The continent was a barren land. Many were lost. Many more would follow.
When Mtanda and Sorese were born their mother, Mosi’O’tunia, named them Mtanda, meaning “star” and Sorese, meaning “sun.” In them she believed she could create her own prophecy, a way for hope in a land filled with none. So she crafted a tale and planted the seed in her children. She gave them light powered by African mythology and folklore long forgotten to the people of now. Mosi’O’tunia herself grew up with too much light for she was a princess—a child of the great king Zimbabwe and her mother the great Khoisan SOM.
But now the greats where gone and what was left were tales of great things, great victories that echoed in books and ancient places. Mosi’O’tunia took these tales and gave them to her children.
The myth goes that BuruXa, the god of land and sea saw Mosi’O’tunia’s light and heard her longing for hope and Africa’s land and people. BuruXa shook the lands and the oceans and further bestowed abilities on Mtanda and Sorese. And finally, BuruXa called out to the skies and mountains to wake: “Wake! Africa wake! Mtanda and Sorese are here. Light is upon you. Wake!”
Spitzkoppe heard her cry.
Romeo Sinkala is a digital artist, illustrator, and art director. As an artist he is influenced by comic books and character design. He loves to explore African stories and characters. Romeo wrote and illustrated Sumbu, a children’s book about Namibia’s independence. He also co-authored Jahohora as an illustrator.