Season of magic and girl power

Two speculative Nigerian books are hitting the shelves soon and they have generated a lot of buzz. Here is why?   Several books by exciting Nigerian authors are coming to the shelves. One of them is the famous Nnedi Okorafor, who has been doing some amazing work with Marvel Comic on the Black Panther Comics […]

Two speculative Nigerian books are hitting the shelves soon and they have generated a lot of buzz. Here is why?

 

Several books by exciting Nigerian authors are coming to the shelves. One of them is the famous Nnedi Okorafor, who has been doing some amazing work with Marvel Comic on the Black Panther Comics is one and debutant Tomi Adeyemi is the other.

Okarafor’s latest book, Akata Warrior, published in Nigeria by Cassava Republic Press as Sunny and the Mysteries of Osisi, is out now  and here are five reasons, according to the  publishers, why you should read the book, as published on their website.

Okarafor, winner of the Hajo Prize has garnered acclaim for her writing and has been dubbed the African JK Rowling. But close readings of her work will show how different she is from Rowling. Her novels are afro-futuristic and draw on science fiction and fantasy than magic, even though there are elements of that. Her characters are often strong females who have to overcome challenges to affect great changes in their society.

With the success of the Black Panther movie, the hunger for Afro-futuristic works have never been greater and Nnedi Okorafor has always been there expanding this field with her fiction.

Sunny and the Mysteries of Osisi, a sequel to What Sunny Saw in the Flame (Published in the US as Akata Witch) is the latest instalment in the Akata Series, a trilogy that follows the lives of Sunny Nwazue and her three friends, Orlu, Chichi and Sasha, as they battle spiritual forces using their gifts as members of the Leopard society.

But if you’ve not read them yet, here are the top 5 reasons to read the series:

 

1.  Escapism

 Lose yourself in the rich details of new and imagined worlds, brought vividly to life as we follow Sunny on her adventures. Nnedi Okorafor imagines that another world is possible – one where to be different-bodied is to be powerful and where knowledge is supreme. Escape from the mundanity and the troubles of our lives and step into a surreal world of delicious strangeness. The Sunny’s Adventures series is a breath of fresh air in fantasy writing, bringing a whole new dimension to the genre with its exploration of juju and masquerades. In place of mermaids and selkies, for instance, we have the dreadlocked Mama Wati.

 

2. Empowerment

 ‘Who are you Sunny Nwazue?’ is a constant refrain in Sunny and the Mysteries of Osisi and through Sunny’s epic journey in the series, she must learn to understand and embrace herself and come into her own power.  In Sunny, Okorafor has created a fiercely determined, football-loving, albino protagonist who stands against ascribed gender roles and arbitrary beauty patterns. Okorafor has always written about strong female characters that is rooted in African ideas of female strength and power, and Sunny is no exception.

 

3. Book Knowledge is Valued

 To progress in the Leopard society, the secret community that Sunny and her three friends are part of, one must gain knowledge solely from reading, and for any new knowledge gained, Chittim (the currency of the Leopard people) is earned. Sunny must also learn to read Nsibidi (the Nigerian script that inspired Wakandan writing in Black Panther), imagined here as a magical script that completely immerses the reader in the book. In the Sunny’s Adventures series, reading is a way of life and the only way to grow, earn and survive in a world filled with unspeakable dangers. This is every book lovers delight! This is a book for both adult and young people.

 

4. A Re-imagining and Celebration of West African Culture and Society

Afro-juju, history and modern society merge together to form a unique backdrop for this series, recreating popular Nigerian cities such as Aba and Lagos as cosmopolitan centres of learning, steeped in a magical culture. Nnedi Okorafor re-centres the polytheistic belief systems that served as a life guide for many West African societies pre-colonialism, presenting them not as works of evil or barbarism, but simply as forces that can serve the purposes of good and evil.

In Okorafor’s hands, the Leopard Society common among the Igbo and Efik of Southeast and South-south Nigeria, is brought back to life, blended with her unique imagination to create something new and exciting.

 

5. Tackling the issue of Confraternities

Known for their acts of violence, confraternities have long been part of Nigeria’s higher education system. Stories of violence and forced initiation into these confraternities are nearly ubiquitous in most state-owned institutions. Despite this, stories about them are largely absent from Nigeria’s literary cannon. In Sunny and the Mysteries of Osisi, Okorafor tackles the issue head-on, bringing confraternities into her narrative, affording readers an opportunity to glimpse into this hidden world.

 

Ouida Books Unveil Nigerian cover for Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone

Lola Shoneyin’s Ouida Books has released the cover of the much talked-about million dollar debut novel, Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.

The young adult book is one of few African novels sold for a million dollars and has been generating huge buzz around the world.

The story which “conjures a stunning world of dark magic and danger in a West African-inspired fantasy debut, follows Zélie Adebola, who remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

The Nigerian edition of the highly anticipated novel is scheduled for release in April and already available for pre-order on the Oudia Books website.

 Lots of excitement about this book. You have a chance to find out soon.