Once upon a time, in a small village nestled deep in the heart of the enchanted forest, lived a mysterious and powerful woman named Morgana. Morgana was not your ordinary village woman. She possessed extraordinary powers and had the ability to perform magic. From a young age, Morgana displayed a keen interest in the mystical arts. She would often spend hours studying ancient spell books and practicing her incantations deep within the forest. As she grew older, her abilities became more potent, and her reputation as a witch began to spread.
A monumental new history of a dangerous profession, exploring witches throughout the British Isles: who they were, their magic, why people employed them but also tried to suppress them.
This monumental new history for the first time describes witches, their magic, and the attempts to eradicate them throughout the British Isles, and alters our picture of who those witches were and why people employed them but also tried to suppress them. , is generally regarded as their finest work; while they were hampered by the primitive recording technology available in Africa, they developed a large following in Zambia and were playing stadium-sized shows throughout the continent.
As she grew older, her abilities became more potent, and her reputation as a witch began to spread. Many villagers feared and mistrusted Morgana due to her association with witchcraft. They believed she was in league with dark forces and had the power to bring about misfortune and chaos.
Witch
A pioneering Zambian psychedelic act, Witch (the name is an acronym, standing for We Intend to Cause Havoc) were one of the defining acts of Zamrock, a fusion of Western rock and rhythm & blues with traditional African sounds. They were among Zambia's most popular and influential bands in the 1970s as a wave of psychedelic and hard rock gained an audience in Africa. A landlocked nation in the South of Africa, Zambia was formerly Northern Rhodesia until gaining its independence in 1964, and as Zambia established its own national identity, local musicians began embracing the progressive influences of artists such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix, as well as the forward-thinking soul and funk sounds of James Brown. By the mid-'70s, Zambia was falling into political chaos as the nation's once-profitable mining industry ran dry, and many Zamrock bands reflected this with a darker, more psychedelic-influenced sound that suggested a familiarity with the likes of Deep Purple and Grand Funk Railroad. Witch's 1972 debut, Introduction, was the first commercial album released by a Zambian band, and they continued to deliver music until fading into dormancy in the mid-'80s. A reissue campaign launched in 2011 brought the band to a new generation of listeners, and Witch reunited in 2012 and started touring again shortly thereafter. In 2023, they released Zango, their first new album in almost 40 years.
The original lineup of Witch included vocalist Emanyeo "Jagari" Chanda, guitarists Chris Mbewe and John Muma, bassist Gedeon Mulenga, and drummer Boidi Sinkala, who were veterans of Zambian cover bands of the late '60s; Chanda (whose nickname "Jagari" came from his fascination with Mick Jagger, one of his strongest influences) had worked with the Red Balloons and the Boyfriends (the latter group would evolve into another key Zamrock outfit, Peace), while most of the other members were members of Kingston Market. In 1971, Chanda sang with Kingston Market at a school function, and he was invited to join the group; they soon changed their name to the Mighty Witch, and then simply Witch, using the acronym they'd coined as explanation. Fueled by marijuana and Western rock and soul, the group's debut album, Introduction, was released in 1972, and was among the first commercially released LPs issued in Zambia. Witch's third album, 1975's Lazy Bones!!, is generally regarded as their finest work; while they were hampered by the primitive recording technology available in Africa, they developed a large following in Zambia and were playing stadium-sized shows throughout the continent.
After Witch toured as an opening act for Osibisa, the U.K.-based Afro-rock band, they began including more local influences on their next album, Lukombo Vibes, but in 1977 the group began to splinter when Chanda left to return to school and become a teacher. A reshuffled version of Witch continued to record up until the mid-'80s, going in a more disco-influenced direction on albums like 1980's Movin' On and 1984's Kuomboka. Around the mid-'80s, however, the band ground to a halt.
In the 21st century, crate diggers interested in idiosyncratic rock sounds from around the world rediscovered Witch, and the German reissue label Shadoks released new CD editions of Introduction and Lazy Bones!! In 2011 the American label Now Again Records released We Intend to Cause Havoc!, a comprehensive Witch box set that featured their five studio albums plus a bonus collection of single tracks and unreleased material. This sparked new interest in the band, and by 2013, a Chanda-led Witch had regrouped and was touring again. In 2023, Witch released Zango, their first album of new material in almost 40 years. It included contributions from fellow Zambian artists such as Sampa the Great and Theresa Ng’ambi.
"An engrossing journey through the world of witches and witchcraft. Highly recommended for those fascinated by the nature and extent of the notorious European Witch Trials."—Tony Robinson
However, there were a few villagers who sought her help and guidance, for they knew that her magic had the potential to heal, protect, and bring prosperity to their lives. Morgana's true intentions were often misunderstood. While she possessed the power to bring harm, she chose to use her abilities for the greater good. She had a deep connection with nature and believed in maintaining the balance between the human world and the mystical realms. Morgana would often venture into the forest, offering her assistance to injured animals and nurturing the plants and flowers that grew in abundance. As time went on, Morgana's actions spoke louder than any rumors or misconceptions. She became a trusted advisor to the village council and was sought out by many for her wisdom and magical expertise. Morgana used her powers to protect the village from evil spirits, banish curses, and help in times of crisis. Despite her growing acceptance, Morgana often felt lonely. Her powers set her apart from the rest of the villagers, and she longed for a connection with someone who understood and embraced her mystical nature. One day, a young man named Tristan entered Morgana's life. He admired her abilities and saw beyond the reputation others had assigned her. They formed a deep and passionate bond, and Tristan became Morgana's confidant and ally. Together, Morgana and Tristan continued their mission to use her magic for the betterment of the village and the enchanted forest. They became a source of hope and inspiration, showing others that magic could be a force for good. With their combined efforts, the village flourished, and the people began to see Morgana not as a feared witch but as a savior and protector. Morgana's life was a testament to the power of individual choice and the importance of looking beyond surface appearances. She showed that it's our actions and intentions that define us, not the labels placed upon us by others. Morgana's legacy lived on long after she was gone, and her story became a source of inspiration for generations to come..
Reviews for "The Witch's Familiar: A Biography of a Witch and Her Animal Companion"
1. John - 1 star - I found "Biography of a witch" to be incredibly dull and drawn out. The story lacked any excitement or depth, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The writing style was monotonous and failed to engage my interest. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - As a fan of fantasy novels, I was excited to read "Biography of a witch", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The plot was predictable, and the characters felt one-dimensional. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of boredom followed by hurried resolutions. The story lacked originality and failed to captivate me. I would advise readers to look elsewhere for a more compelling fantasy read.
3. Emily - 1 star - "Biography of a witch" was a complete letdown for me. The narrative was confusing and disjointed, making it challenging to follow the storyline. I found the writing to be pretentious and overly descriptive, with excessive use of flowery language that added little substance to the plot. Moreover, the characters were not relatable or well-developed, and I struggled to invest in their stories. I regret wasting my time on this book and would not recommend it to others.