Thanks to a British television competition for writers, South Africa’s Rachel Zadok has had her novel, Gem Squash Tokoloshe, published by Pan Macmillan in the United Kingdom.
The story is told through the eyes of a child, against the backdrop of apartheid. Set on a farm in the then Northern Transvaal, it also examines traditional beliefs such as that in the tokoloshe.
What, for Zadok, is a tokoloshe? “Very short, with a big belly and one buttock,” she says. “Yes, you heard right, one big buttock — no split. And a very long penis, so long that he can easily chuck it behind his neck.”
She is fascinated by such myths. “I’ve heard interesting stories about the tokoloshe. I love magical realism and African mythology. It’s something I want to delve into further.”
Is there a hint of JK Rowling’s magic here, African-style? “No,” says Zadok. “I don’t see myself creating an African Harry Potter — he’d probably have to go to a witchdoctor school and Hogwarts would have to be Warthogs,” she laughs.
Spooky stuff has never frightened her. “My mom’s cousin was a spirit medium. A man would speak through her and suddenly her small voice would get deep. My cousin and I would peep through the glass door and watch, because we weren’t allowed in the [spiritualist] meetings at home,” she recalls.
A graphic designer by trade, Zadok moved to London four years ago. She waitressed for a while and worked for an orphans’ charity, then struck it lucky when the popular television show Richard and Judy launched a “How to get published” competition. Budding writers were invited to send in the first chapter and a synopsis of their novel.
Five months later, 46 000 entries having been received, journalist Christine Aziz was announced as the winner. But the other four finalists also received offers from publishers Pan Macmillan (including a £20 000 advance), and Zadok was one of the four.
She’s thrilled about the publication of Gem Squash Tokoloshe. And the future? “I want to be a recluse,” she jokes.