From the opening pages we are introduced to the cast of characters who are portrayed as various animals. What do you think was the author’s intent and how did her choices affect your reading and interpretation of the story?

Does the choice to use particular animals for particular roles tell us anything about the archetypes or stereotypes the author might have been seeking to amplify or disrupt? How does (the illusion of) domestication come into play here?

We often hear the voices of the citizens directly through Twitter feeds. Does this feel familiar in the way politics are discussed among people across the world today? What similarities or differences do you see? How is this style of communication radical or harmful

Glory is narrated through a chorus of different voices and can be read as a polyphonic novel. Does this narrative technique offer a broader range of perspectives from the collective inhabitants of Jidada?

Why do you think Destiny returned after exile? What has instigated her return?

In the subchapter THE PEOPLE WILL DIE, THE NAMES WILL REMAIN, Simiso tells her daughter the story of her life and the history of their family. How are legacies remembered or forgotten? What do you know about generational trauma? How much do you know of your own family history?

A swarm of red butterflies recurs within the story. What do you think the butterflies signify, and what do the citizens of Jidada see in them?

While Jidada is portrayed as an oppressive patriarchal system, the story was mostly driven through its “femal” characters—Destiny, Marvelous, Simiso, Sisters of the Disappeared, etc. What do you think of the role of women in the narrative compared to it in Jidada as a whole? How does this relate to our world today?

What makes a nation independent? How do you interpret the concept of “independence” and how does this book illuminate, inform, or challenge that idea

According to the Guardian, ‘The stylistic use of the refrain “Tholukuthi”, meaning “only to discover”, nods to a social media moment. Around the time of the Zimbabwe coup, the song Tholukuthi Hey! was released, and once it went viral, the refrain became a meme.’ In what ways did the repeated use of the word affect your reading of the novel

Aside from its ties to modern Zimbabwean history, the novel is laced with cultural hot takes. With references to George Floyd and Donald Trump to mentions of social media companies and internet memes, this is truly a novel of our times. Does its timeliness make Glory more, or less compelling in your opinion?