A journey to Africa inspired a black activist to write a novel blending reality and fiction to raise awareness of the global water crisis.

It is simple to take water for granted until it is not there. Papi Kymone Freeman, an author and campaigner, decided to use Marvel-like superheroes to illustrate the reality of climate change, global warming, and the privatization of water in a fictional book titled NINEVEH. The story is set in a post-oil-depleted dystopian future and centers on a conflict over water. It is slated for release on March 22, 2023, World Water Day.



Freeman stated, “During my stay in Nairobi, Kenya, with a fellowship from the American Friends Service Committee, I had to use bottled water to brush my teeth. I observed people gathering water from the same spot that goats were drinking from. Also, I saw parents giving Coca-Cola to their infants in their bottles because the soda was safer than the accessible water. Nowadays, the water crisis is visible in America, from the Flint water crisis to the one currently occurring in Jackson, Mississippi.”



In NINEVEH, the effects of climate change have caused some cities to be submerged and new cities to emerge. A massive global drought, along with the pollution of the available fresh water, and the privatization of the unpolluted aquifers has created a crisis of catastrophic proportions. This has made water too expensive for most people, pushing them to collect rainwater, which has become a forbidden commodity. Furthermore, an altered drug has been put into the limited public supply, preventing any form of resistance.



The Resistance is led by Ndbele, a wise teacher, and his daughter Evolon, a powerful fighter. They are assisted by Bethlehem, their most dependable friend. NINEVEH is controlled by Nimrod, the head of the Global Water Corporation that controls the world's water market. His only weakness is his son Saisir, who is a nymphomaniac.



Shaka King, director of the two-time Oscar-nominated movie Judas & the Black Messiah, said of NINEVEH, “There is a lot of value in escapist art. Nevertheless, this novel skillfully balances trauma and entertainment without disregarding either one.”



You can pre-order the paperback edition of NINEVEH for $18.99 and the hardcover for $24.99 at NinevehNovel.com. It is published by Strong Arm Press, an independent publishing house focusing on progressive issues and activism.

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