Urim & Thummim: Seer Of Africa Launches New Series

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Author John E. Black introduces sixteen-year-old Yohan Shakur, a herder boy whose life is upended when he discovers ancient stones called the Urim & Thummim that grant him prophetic visions. As Yohan struggles to understand his new role as Keeper, he is guided by the natural and spiritual world around him, leading him on a journey across the African savannah where he must choose whether to remain a herder or embrace an oath heavier than any crown.

Why it matters

The novel explores themes of truth, memory, and the responsibility of bearing witness, challenging readers to consider who controls the narrative and what happens when a reluctant witness refuses to look away. Set against the vivid backdrop of the African savannah, the story blends spiritually infused adventure with coming-of-age transformation and high-stakes moral conflict.

The details

Yohan Shakur, a 16-year-old herder, discovers ancient stones called the Urim & Thummim hidden beneath a baobab tree. When he touches them, he is flooded with visions of villages burning, voices silenced, and rivers running with blood. The stones have chosen him as their Keeper, a role he did not ask for but must now navigate. Guided by the natural and spiritual world around him, including trees, lions, rivers, and ancestors, Yohan embarks on a journey across the African savannah, where he must confront the human cost of silence and the danger of prophecy in the wrong hands.

• The story is set in the present day on the African savannah.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Seer of Africa series, of which Urim & Thummim: Seer Of Africa is the first installment, will continue with future novels exploring Yohan's journey and the consequences of his role as Keeper of the ancient Urim & Thummim stones.