Review by: Nadine Bailey

Karmzah is the super-herione whose powers are unleashed when archaeologist Morowa Adjei accidentally drops an ancient Malian artefact. Morowa has cerebral palsy and the medicine man freed from the jar gives her super-powers through her crutches, including the ability to speak and understand any language while on a mission. This is an important power in multi-lingual Africa which is home to between 1000 and 2000 languages. According to Harvard University there are at least 75 languages in Africa with more than one million speakers. 

Her first mission is to rescue a Nigerian oil magnate’s son who was holidaying with friends in Pemba Mozambique instead of studying at his university in Ghana. 

The art work is well-done with the use of bright colours and varying perspectives adding power to the action-filled story. The text is quite simple with the images providing additional information, and the wry sense of humour of Morowa adds fun to the story-line.

While her power comes from her crutches and she receives instructions on how to use the crutches in a rescue situation, I hope that in anticipated future editions of this as a series we would also see her obvious intelligence shining through as well as her imbued physical powers. The author is a Ghanaian software engineer with cerebral palsy and like other reviewers, I appreciated the authenticity of her voice and having a glimpse into the life of a strong woman in Africa. 

Illustrations and colouring: Ravi Allotey

Publisher: Leti Arts

Copyright: 2018

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07ND1NCWD (digital only)

This book is currently only available as an ebook. Its availability varies depending on where you are located. The Kindle version is available (in some regions) here. You can read the book for free on the Afrocomix app available via Google Play.

About the author 

Farida Bedwei is the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Logiciel (Ghana) Ltd, a software company developing banking systems for the microfinance industry.

“Farida is also an author and a disability-rights advocate, and has been featured on many media platforms . . . . She has also won a number of local and international awards, and was adjudged the most influential woman in business and governance (finance sector) for her work in computerizing the microfinance industry. Farida is a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum.”

Learn more: 

Disability, Does Not Mean Inability – FARIDA BEDWEI

The inspirational tech guru who’s owning cerebral palsy like a boss – CNN

Farida Bedwei creates world’s first Cerebral palsy superhero

Reviewer: Nadine Bailey

Nadine Bailey

Curator of the second #IntlYALitMonth at Global Literature in Libraries Initiative:

Linda Hoiseth is the high school librarian at the American School of Dubai and has previously worked at schools in the US, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Poland, Peru, Qatar, and India. (She’s very much looking forward to working with Nadine Bailey next year!) She has a B.S. in English and Secondary Education, an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction, and a graduate certificate in School Library Media. She’s currently a member of the ECIS Libraries Special Interest Group committee. She’s a fierce advocate for all students to have access to all the books. Follow her on Twitter.