play_arrow

Society & Culture

‘Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi’: An Audio Drama Analysis

podcast June 4, 2025


Background
share close

In this special sponsored episode, we’re partnering with Audible for our first-ever audio drama analysis, breaking down the groundbreaking supernatural thriller “Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi” starring Caleb McLaughlin from Stranger Things.

Created by Zimbabwean-American filmmaker Nyasha Hatendi, this six-episode supernatural horror audio drama follows an African-American family from Detroit whose luxury heritage tourism trip to Zimbabwe unleashes an ancient shapeshifting spirit – part man, part beast, part spirit – that feeds on weakness and pain.

We explore in-depth:

– What does it mean to be Black globally? – African horror vs. Black-American horror – Caleb McLaughlin’s star-making vocal performance – Heritage tourism and American privilege – Colonial trauma in modern storytelling – The rise of Black audio drama

Listen to “Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi” in Dolby Atmos exclusively on Audible at audible.com/sacrilege.

Thank you to Audible for sponsoring this episode.

Rate it
Previous episode