JILL BAKER

THE FATTED CALF - sacrificed on the altar of international expediency . . . will be launched in London in September next year. Book 2 of The Zambezi Trilogy tells of sheer disbelief, anger and agonies of a people as the jewel of Africa was brought to its knees. This is no ordinary hyped up story of Rhodesia. It is told dispassionately and heartbreakingly through the eyes of the author and three amaNdebele boys - all best childhood friends.

Jabu, grandson of an esteemed amaNdebele Chief, with military training in Russia becomes a leader of ZPRA fighting for freedom; Themba an early University graduate, passionate about the preservation of natural resources is employed at top level by the Rhodesian government; "Prune", an orphan adopted by a Scottish nurse, becomes a highly successful businessman managing trading stores round the country.

Colonialism stinks in the nostrils of today's world - but the short 90 years of Rhodesia's existence and now almost half that time again as Zimbabwe - have not only an extraordinary tale to tell but critical lessons to be learned.

Britain's last colony was formed in 1890, through the British South Africa Company - created by the 'nouveau-riche' son of an English pastor. By then, the British had learned many lessons about spreading Christianity, Commerce and Civilisation to a people who knew nothing about them - and who lived a disciplined, although in western eyes, a savage life, perfectly well suited to them.

Always controversial, Rhodes was a man on a mission - he knew his life would be short and he had no time to waste. Once settlement had been agreed, under somewhat nefarious terms, he appointed where possible, the sons of the English aristocracy to be the first pioneers. Why? Because these sons would not inherit the mansions of their fathers, the prevailing wisdom was "head South young man . . . " to find your lives there. Why again? Because should those young men get into trouble, their fathers were influential enough to ensure the British Government would respond quickly.

They were outstanding settlers - when Southern Rhodesia proved not to have the gold the BSAC was hoping for, these settlers were well off enough anyway, to look after themselves. Most of them proved to be benevolent becoming leaders in the advancement of the Africans through the introduction of education, agriculture and better health practices.

What they did not foresee was the resulting fastest population growth in the world over the decade of the 1950's and following the losses of the World Wars the inability of the very small white population to keep pace. What nobody foresaw further, was the sponsored migration of artisans who could help build towns, make roads and engineer dams which excellent in the advancement of the country, found many turned against the Africans as they themselves learned to build, make roads and dams . . . and by the early 1960's - threaten their jobs . The fuse was lit.

Jill Baker's first book Beloved African, a biography of her father’s life as a headmaster in African education, was published in South Africa, Australia and the UK in 2000. The Horns was written following 8 years of research, with undercover trips to meet key players. Following that, the motivation to build a historical novel around the stories, and the dramatically different lives of her three amaNdebele childhood friends was overpowering!

The Horns, is the first book of the Zambezi Trilogy published in 2019. The final book will be co-authored by a Zimbabwean journalists and one of today's leading human rights activists in that country.

All three books weave their fictional/reality stories around a precisely researched historical base . . . Book 1: from the formation of the Matabele people, through settlement by the British South Africa Company to Prime Minister Ian Smith's declaration of Independence from Britain in 1965. Book 2: takes the narrative on through international sanctions and guerrilla war, to shortly before the inauguration of Robert Mugabe and the birth of Zimbabwe and Book 3: will tell the tales of independence and freedom from colonialism.

Jill Baker has been appointed as a Special Envoy to the Matabele Royal Family and through video logs and speaker engagements, on her YouTube Channel tells tales of their extraordinary story from its colourful early history, through King Lobengula's difficulties with Cecil Rhodes, the settlement of Mashonaland in 1890 and his death three years later - to the persecution and difficulties the Matabele people face today.

As an accomplished public speaker, with many years in Television and Radio, Jill has had well received tours to the UK, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia. During the Covid years Jill diversified into speaker/managed and graphically illustrated, Zoom presentations to various audiences internationally. Additional details are available on her Wikileaks page: Jill Baker Author.

Jill has spoken, and is happy to speak, at all levels of political, business, social or philanthropic groups or organisations. She is planning to be in the UK for the launch of The Fatted Calf and will be available to speak from mid August to the end of October 2024.