You Scratch My Back . . .

About the Book

You Scratch My Back… is an animal adventure story set in an imaginary volcanic crater in the Kingdom of Namaqualand in Azania now popularly known as South Africa. Here, Nye Nye the bee, Temba the giraffe and Asa the butterfly strike an extraordinary friendship, which surprises many of the Namaqua residence. Kumba the tortoise, a brilliant storyteller narrates the origins of the gardens and the intricate and special relationship between the bee, the giraffe and the butterfly as she responds to questions from her inquisitive granddaughter Kuku. For a long time the animals of Namaqua enjoy a peaceful coexistence until their livelihood is threatened by Commercial Farmers from outside the crater, The story develops around the uneasy and sometimes acrimonious relationship between the farmers and the animals. Discover how the animals and the commercial farmers eventually agree and come to the conclusion that their destiny is inextricably linked and that they need each other. The book ends with a celebratory chorus from the Namaqua Anthem.

About the Author

Chris Shongedza was born in Zimbabwe in 1960. His interest in writing started at an early age inspired and encouraged by his parents who were teachers and community leaders. He would write short stories and poems and his parents would bind the contend for him to create a small library. Chris also writes short stories and poems in his mother’s tongue Shona He did his primary and part of his secondary education in Zimbabwe before moving to the UK where he studied Animal Science at the University of Leeds. Chris is married to Rudo and they are blessed with three children, Nyasha, Farai and Maruva and they are currently based in Manchester UK.