Chaos in Kinshasa
Catalyst Books (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 31. October 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
978-1-946395-98-6 (ISBN)
Description
From beloved Congolese comics creator Barly Baruti and Belgian comics critic Thierry Bellefroid, translated from the original French by Batchelder Award-winning translator Ivanka Hahnenberger
A Harlem gangster's trip to Central Africa to attend the legendary 1974 Ali-Foreman "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match becomes a one-way ticket to the seedy underground of Zaire-complete with espionage, murder, and a communist plot to overthrow Zaire's infamous President Mobutu.
When Ernest, a low-level gangster from Harlem, wins tickets to travel to Zaire to attend the "Rumble in the Jungle," the now-legendary bout between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, he's eager to reconnect with his African roots and escape the ruthless gang leaders he's indebted to back home. But in Zaire, Ernest becomes entangled in an Angolan coup against the country's embattled president Mobutu Sese Seko-inspired by Che Guevara himself-and soon realizes that Zaire may hold even more dangers for him than Harlem ever could.
A Cold-War-era thriller set against the backdrop of a landmark moment in sports history, Chaos in Kinshasa features Barly Baruti's characteristic art and Thierry Bellefroid's punchy dialogue woven in with the elements of a great gangster story-sex, spies, bribes, and murder. A thrill ride through a pivotal moment in Cold War, African, and sports history.
A Harlem gangster's trip to Central Africa to attend the legendary 1974 Ali-Foreman "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match becomes a one-way ticket to the seedy underground of Zaire-complete with espionage, murder, and a communist plot to overthrow Zaire's infamous President Mobutu.
When Ernest, a low-level gangster from Harlem, wins tickets to travel to Zaire to attend the "Rumble in the Jungle," the now-legendary bout between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, he's eager to reconnect with his African roots and escape the ruthless gang leaders he's indebted to back home. But in Zaire, Ernest becomes entangled in an Angolan coup against the country's embattled president Mobutu Sese Seko-inspired by Che Guevara himself-and soon realizes that Zaire may hold even more dangers for him than Harlem ever could.
A Cold-War-era thriller set against the backdrop of a landmark moment in sports history, Chaos in Kinshasa features Barly Baruti's characteristic art and Thierry Bellefroid's punchy dialogue woven in with the elements of a great gangster story-sex, spies, bribes, and murder. A thrill ride through a pivotal moment in Cold War, African, and sports history.
Reviews / Votes
"This is no typical sports story. Through a sharp and insightful lens, Bellefroid and Baruti explore how the Cold War's shadow loomed large over the fight, turning it into a global political chess match, with Zaire's dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko, at the heart of the drama....Baruti's vivid and detailed illustrations bring this high-stakes drama to life, perfectly capturing the intensity of the moment and the tension of the Cold War backdrop. The artwork and storytelling mesh seamlessly, giving the reader not only a historical thriller but also a visual feast....Chaos in Kinshasa is a must-read for both sports enthusiasts and thriller aficionados alike, offering a compelling blend of history, politics, and human drama. It's a remarkable testament to the intersection of sports and global politics, told through the rich and immersive lens of a graphic novel." - Didier Gondola, African Access Review, starred review"Mixing real people and events with fictional Cold War-era espionage, Barly Baruti and Thierry Bellefroid's Chaos in Kinshasa is a lively graphic thriller that uses the"Rumble in the Jungle"-the famed 1974 Muhammad Ali-George Foreman heavyweight boxing title bout-and the vividly rendered capital city of Kinshasa as its backdrop and setting." - Publishers Weekly
"[Chaos in Kinshasa] is really great. I totally recommend it. If you didn't have any idea of the intrigue and politics behind the Rumble in the Jungle, you have to read this." - Ivanka Hahnenberger, Five Books
"Baruti's art in Chaos in Kinshasa fits its thematic storytelling well. His characters are realistic and feature vivid expressions, almost photographic in capturing the strong emotions of the moment. The backgrounds are intricately detailed with complexities that hint at all the same complexities in the Cold War era. The watercolor-style colors show that the world can be at once beautiful as well as haunting with blurred lines behind the inked borders." - Jeff Provine, Blogcritics
"In this intense graphic novel, a Harlem street thug at the Ali-Foreman 'Rumble in the Jungle' in 1974 gets mixed up in a lethal coup attempt." - Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"Fans of the Rumble in the Jungle will enjoy reading this creative account of the iconic 1974 fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman brought to life with brilliant illustrations and a riveting storyline. Highly recommended!" - Michelle Sikes, Associate Professor of Kinesiology, African Studies & History at Penn State
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
CA
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Full color illustrations fill every page
Dimensions
Height: 263 mm
Width: 204 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight
446 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-946395-98-6 (9781946395986)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Baruti Kandolo Lilela, better known by his pen name Barly Baruti, is a renowned Congolese cartoonist. He has been described by the BBC as "the Congolese author best known outside his country." Baruti is the co-founder of the Atelier de Creation et de l'Initiation a l'Art Creative Workshop for an Initiation to Art) to encourage talented youth in Kinshasa, and he is responsible for organizing the first Afro BD show in Kinshasa in the effort to promote African comics. He currently lives in Kinshasa. In 2023, Barly was named Facilitator of Partnerships and Cultural Relations in Europe by the Congolese Ministry of Culture.
Thierry Bellefroid works for the Belgian television company, RTB. He has published three novels, a collection of short stories and a digital novel. Amongst many things, he has been a member of numerous comics juries; he has been a member of Groupe d'Experts sur la Bande Dessine?e pour la Communaute? Franc?aise de Belgique since its creation in 2001 and a commissioner for the Commission for Aid to Comics of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation of Belgium until 2015; he coordinated comic strip animations for eight years for the Brussels Book Fair; and has participated in the catalogs of many comics exhibitions.
Ivanka Hahnenberger has translated over 60 comics and graphic novels, including several highly acclaimed titles such as Climate Changed, Blue is the Warmest Color, Madame Livingstone (a 2021 New York Times Globetrotting title) and Catherine's War, which won her the Silver 2021 Batchelder Award. She has lived in Europe since 1983, primarily in France and Germany but with several short stays in other European nations, and presently lives in London.
Thierry Bellefroid works for the Belgian television company, RTB. He has published three novels, a collection of short stories and a digital novel. Amongst many things, he has been a member of numerous comics juries; he has been a member of Groupe d'Experts sur la Bande Dessine?e pour la Communaute? Franc?aise de Belgique since its creation in 2001 and a commissioner for the Commission for Aid to Comics of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation of Belgium until 2015; he coordinated comic strip animations for eight years for the Brussels Book Fair; and has participated in the catalogs of many comics exhibitions.
Ivanka Hahnenberger has translated over 60 comics and graphic novels, including several highly acclaimed titles such as Climate Changed, Blue is the Warmest Color, Madame Livingstone (a 2021 New York Times Globetrotting title) and Catherine's War, which won her the Silver 2021 Batchelder Award. She has lived in Europe since 1983, primarily in France and Germany but with several short stays in other European nations, and presently lives in London.