BANYAZI
In a world where ancient Zambian witchcraft (Juju) clashes with modern society, a seemingly ordinary law student, Demetrius, discovers extraordinary abilities and is thrust into a covert war against a military coup orchestrated by a powerful, Juju-wielding captain, forcing him to confront a hidden reality and his own destiny.
The story opens in 1959 Zambia, where Mr. Chola and Musonda, UNIP cadres, use ancient Luapulan Juju (Nyakazi dolls and Kapuyi) to orchestrate a mysterious attack on British settlers at the Samfya Waterfront Hotel, resulting in 53 deaths and the disappearance of Mr. Chola, leaving behind a single Nyakazi doll and a confiscated bird charm that becomes folklore.Fast forward to present-day Lusaka, 2024. The confiscated bird charm is now an exhibit at the Lusaka National Museum. The narrative then introduces Michelle and Serah, two drunk girls, who unknowingly walk past the ZNBC building just as a military ambulance, led by Captain Benzu Hamudula, stages a violent coup. The guards are incapacitated by severed chicken heads, leading to their bizarre, suicidal charge into a fence. Benzu Hamudula, a bald, authoritative figure, takes control of key national institutions and issues an ultimatum to President Harambe Harambe: resign in ten minutes or face consequences. The nation watches in fear as a countdown begins.One month prior, in Kafue Town, Demetrius, a disciplined law student with a rigorous workout routine, unknowingly displays superhuman speed when he saves a child from a careening minibus after a rat-induced explosion at a gas station. This event hints at his latent abilities. Meanwhile, at the University of Lusaka, Leopards Hill Campus, Demetrius witnesses a soldier, Second Lieutenant Boneface Daka, brutally assault and kill the dean using Juju, causing a strange fog to envelop the area. Demetrius, unable to stand by, leaps from a two-story building into the fog, confronting Boneface. Their fight reveals Boneface's own Juju-enhanced abilities and a shared past connected to the Ndembo fighting style.The narrative then delves into the origins of Juju, explaining its history, different forms (offensive, defensive, communicative), and the five Ndembo fighting styles (Misisi, Chibolya, Ng’ombe, Makululu, Soweto), each granting unique powers. It also introduces the concepts ofPeak Humans and Muzis (ancestor spirits). Demetrius learns that he might be a Peak Human, while Dante, a fellow student, is a Muzi from Soweto, capable of shadow manipulation and teleportation. Mandamus, another student, is also revealed to be a Peak Human.As the coup unfolds, the characters find themselves in increasingly dangerous situations. The East Park Mall becomes a scene of mass hysteria and violence as soldiers unleash crow heads, driving people into a murderous frenzy. President Harambe struggles to respond, his military paralyzed by Juju. Eddboy and Mosh, two other students with enhanced abilities, fight for survival at the University of Zambia.Back at the University of Lusaka, Demetrius, Dante, and Mandamus, along with Anne, Taonga, and Natasha, prepare for battle. Watson, a wielder of Chibolya Ndembo, joins them, demonstrating his healing abilities. The final confrontation begins in the courtyard, with Demetrius facing Boneface, and Dante engaging Bill Tendai, another powerful Juju user. The story culminates in intense battles, revealing the true extent of their powers and the devastating impact of the Juju-fueled coup.
