If you’d like to be included in this slot, please get in touch: estherchilton@gmail.com. Poems can be up to 60 lines and prose 2000 words. If you’d like to add a short bio and photo, then great. All I ask is that there’s nothing offensive.
My guest this week is the wonderful, prolific writer Robbie Cheadle. It’s a delight to have her back on my blog. She’s bringing us details of her latest book. Over to you, Robbie.
New Book – The Last Man, South African History, Legends, & Poetry by Robbie Cheadle
I have a new book available. This is a bit of a collector’s item book filled with short stories, flash fiction and poems about South African history, legends and the natural environment. It is only available as a paperback from the publisher, TSL Publications situated in the UK here: https://tslbooks.uk/product/the-last-man-robbie-cheadle/
Description
The Last Man: South African History, Legends, & Poetry by Robbie Cheadle
A collection of ghost and other dark stories and poems set in South Africa.
What is the curse of the Grande Montanha?
How did it affect sailors navigating the Cape of Storms?
If the walls of the Castle of Good Hope could speak, what stories would they tell?
What happened to the last man at the devastating Battle of Isandlwana?
Clasp the hands of some of South Africa’s most famous ghosts and witness their untimely deaths through this collection of poems, flash fiction, and short stories.
You can watch my short book promo video here: https://youtube.com/shorts/mE3vwWcZY7I?si=Zb4kKY8KIkQUET6S
Extract from The Last Man
The Prophetess of Xhosaland (epic poem)
It was a time of great social tension
Among the Xhosa there was dissension
Caused by the actions of white invaders
Who initially claimed to be peaceful traders
But really wanted to take the land
A nation debilitated by frontier wars
Time between each merely a pause
All sides nursing grievance scores
Poor people of Xhosaland
***
1779 was the beginning of it all
A despicable and treacherous brawl
Chief Jalamba was lured into a trap
And murdered in a one-sided attack
Because invaders wanted the land
Extended borders without negotiation
During the period of Cape Colony creation
The flimsy excuse, cattle theft cessation
Poor people of Xhosaland
***
Drought led to reduced grazing and water
Inevitably resulted in another slaughter
Boers and natives allied themselves to push
Enemy clans off the land through an ambush
Defending Xhosa refused to abandon land
Fought back with all their might and main
Seizing horses, cattle, and sheep for personal gain
It ended badly, their blood the earth did stain
Poor people of Xhosaland
***
Seven years later the Xhosa staged another revolt
And onto European settled farmlands encroached
The Boers retaliated, there was a string of fights
Xhosas and Europeans both believing in their rights
To graze and farm the same area of land
The Boer commandos couldn’t achieve a decisive win
The defending forces were stretched much too thin
Post peace Xhosa presence caused great chagrin
Poor people of Xhosaland
***
Fourth war was the result of Xhosa defiance
Soon suppressed by British and Boer alliance
Driven across the river in the name of the Crown
The British headquarters renamed Grahamstown
Now determined to hold the land
Line of frontier forts was swiftly constructed
“Stay out of the Zuurveld,” Xhosa instructed
Unfortunately, treaty process misconducted
Poor people of Xhosaland
***
Civil war ensued, British backed Chief Gaika defeated
Rival Chief Ndlambe his administration unseated
Riding a triumphant wave, Grahamstown attacked
But British retaliation his forces soon cracked
This time they would populate the land
The 1820 settlers arrived on twenty-one great ships
Dumped on the beach, they struggled to come to grips
With the harsh terrain and numerous hardships
Poor people of Xhosaland
***
Caught between Europeans and the Zulu Kingdom
Xhosa frustration turned to frontier cattle-raiding
Tensions boiled over; no-one acting with wisdom
Killing of King Hintsa by the British most degrading
Homelessness overcame the land
This conflict a catalyst for the Dutch settler migration
British accusations against the Boers causation
Aiming for self-government in a new location
Poor people of Xhosaland
***
Ten years passed before the seventh war
During which time a girl, Nongqawuse, was born
This time, Xhosa use of firearms evened the score
Protracted fighting left all combatants careworn
Scorched earth policies damaged the land
A reasonable treaty was negotiated by Boer commandos
But to continue the war was what the British chose
By creating a crown dependency, British rule was imposed
Poor people of Xhosaland
***
Governor Harry Smith treated Boers and Xhosa with distain
Displacing the Xhosa and annexing the Orange Free State
Nongqawuse’s parents died during the Waterkloof campaign
The eighth war was brutal resulting in a high death rate
In the aftermath, death stalked the land
Young Nogqawuse claimed two ancestors to have met
Said destroying all crops and killing cattle would reset
Destiny of the Xhosa people when the sun turned red
Poor people of Xhosaland
***
Within twelve-months, 400,000 cattle were killed
Other food sources and clothing were destroyed
But Nongqause’s prophecies were never fulfilled
Of means of survival the landscape was left devoid
Starvation overtook the land
The Xhosa nature found itself in a terrible bind
Disease spread adding to the populations decline
Prophetess’s reputation to late maligned
Poor people of Xhosaland
***
Cape Colony government with the native Fengu allied
Who flourished financially by adopting urban trade
Taking British rule and changing circumstances in their stride
Poverty in the independent Gcaleka land relations frayed
Encouraged by drought across the land
Clashes between the indigenous groups took place
Gcaleka insurgents operating from a mountain base
Result; Xhosa independence disappeared without a trace
Picture caption: Ceramic depiction of a Xhosa man and woman in traditional clothing.
Author CV – Robbie Cheadle
South African author, photographer, and artist, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, written and illustrated four poetry books and written and illustrated one celebration of cake and fondant art book with recipes. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies. In addition, Robbie Cheadle has a collector’s edition paperback book of South African photographs, history, legends, and poetry available from TSL Publications.
Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
Purchase links:
TSL Publications (paperbacks)
Lulu.com (paperbacks and ebooks)
https://www.lulu.com/search/?adult_audience_rating=00&contributor=Robbie+Cheadle&page=1&pageSize=10
Amazon US (paperbacks)
https://www.amazon.com/Robbie-Cheadle/e/B01N9J62GQ
Amazon UK (paperbacks)
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