Chaos in Kinshasa

"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 Mobuto. On October 30, 1974 in the Republic of Zaire, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman will fight the biggest boxing match in history-the epic Rumble in the Jungle, watched by over one billion people worldwide. But on the streets of Zaire, now the Republic of Congo, a deeper conflict is at play, as communist and capitalist forces move against each other in secret and corruption under Zaire's president Mobuto threatens to plunge the country-and the Cold War-into chaos. When Ernest, a low-level gangster from Harlem, wins tickets to travel to Zaire and attend the fight, 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 Zaire's president Mobuto Sese Suko, inspired by Che Guevara himself -and soon realizes that Zaire may hold even more dangers for him than Harlem ever had. With punchy dialogue, Barly Baruti's characteristic art style, and all the best elements of a great gangster story-sex, spies, bribes, and murder-Chaos in Kinshasa is a grungy, graphic thrill ride through a pivotal moment in Cold War, African, and sports history"--

About the author

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 Création et de l’Initiation à 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 Dessinée pour la Communauté Française 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. 

Summary

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 Kinshasafeatures 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.

Foreword

• We will send 300 review copies (150 pre-pub, 150 post-pub) to reviewers, booksellers, media, librarians, and bloggers; 
  
• We will seek early blurbs from relevant graphic novelists, comic creators, authors, and historians; 
  
• We will submit the book for all relevant awards;
  
• We will actively seek the inclusion of the book in unit studies curriculum; 
  
• We will promote the book at Comic Con, ALA annual, mid-winter ALA, NCTE, NCSS, and African Studies Association annual conferences; 
  
• We will host Goodreads and LibraryThing giveaways; 
  
• We will actively engage relevant book clubs and relevant historical or educational organizations in targeted publicity campaigns;
  
• We will promote the book online via Catalyst's website as well as email lists and social media (blog, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube). 
  
• We will promote the book within traditional educational and homeschooling communities; 
  
• We will submit the book to Library Guild and make it available as an e-ARC on Edelweiss and Netgalley for relevant reviewers; 
  
• The book will be released as part of Catalyst Press’ recently relaunched Panel & Page graphic novel series for African graphic novels and will receive targeted publicity in that regard; 
  
• The book will also be released as part of Catalyst Press' popular African Crime Reads series and will receive targeted publicity in that regard;
• We will promote the book as part of our global, once annually #ReadingAfrica Week campaign; 
  
• We will coordinate with Thierry Bellefroid, Barly Baruti, and Ivanka Hahnenberger to coordinate in-person and/or virtual launch events, readings, panel participations, and attendance to literary and comics festivals where possible. 
  

Product details

• Assisted by: Ivanka Hahnenberger (Translation)
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 20.02.2024
• EAN: 9781946395986
• ISBN: 978-1-946395-98-6
• Dimensions: 210 mm x 274 mm x 9 mm
• Weight: 278 g
• Illustrations: Full color illustrations fill every page
• Subjects: Fiction > Comic, cartoon, humour, satire; Humanities, art, music > Art > Interior design, design; SPORTS & RECREATION / History, COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Literary, FICTION / African American & Black / Historical, Graphic novel / Comic book / Manga: Action and adventure, Graphic novel / Comic book / Manga: Sports