The world of Nigerian Literature is usually dominated by works that present the struggle of between good and evil, battle of morals and coming of age novels (bildungsroman). And now I’m not trying to detract anything from the intriguing characters and nature of the works neither am I dismissing or downplaying the talent that has been displayed in Nigerian authors over the years.
However, literature is an ever expanding universe, and there are so many worlds in it. In Nigeria, an area still not fully explored but has enough potential is in the genre of fantasy fiction. Fantasy fiction comes in many kinds; we have science fictions, adventures, metaphysical literature, myths and so many more. All in all, it is a world of magical creation that entraps readers in its beauty, vivid imagery and wonderful plot.
TheOwnMag presents some of the very best of fantasy fiction to come out from Nigeria.
• CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE by Tomi Adeyemi
Arguably one of the best modern renditions the Yoruba Myths of gods and goddesses. The books follows Zeilie, a diviner(part of the reaper clan) and her journey to restore magic to Orisha and the world alongside her brother Tzain and the princess, Amari while being chased across fictional magical lands formed from Nigerian culture by the next in line to the throne and Amaris’s brother, Prince Inan. This masterpiece, written by Tomi is a beautiful romanticization of ancient Yoruba culture and myths, filled with magical characters, mystical powers and animals. The book is richly packed with Tales of the supernatural and elements of the metaphysical, while still containing characters that you fall in love with and a plot that is easy to understand while still having an amazing structure. Lovers of the Percy Jackson series would eat this up. The book is part of a series by the author, “The Legacy of Orisha”.
• AKATA WITCH by Nnedi Okarafor
From the tales of the west, we travel to the superstitions of East Nigeria. Akata Witch, also known as “What Sunny Saw in the Flames” is a 2011 fantasy novel written by Nigerian-Ameriacan author, Nnedi Okarafor and is the first book in the Nsibidi Scripts Series and also an award winning book. The book centers around twelve year old Sunny, an albino that lives in Aba, Nigeria, who discovers that she has magical abilities and part of a community in West Africa called the Leopard People. Sunny, along with her friends are assembled by the leaders of the Leopard People community to capture a serial killer who was once a powerful member of the Leopard People in Black Hat Otokoto. Akata Witch presents African Juju in two different lights, wonderfully crafted in mystical word building and amazing characters. A story well told.
• BEASTS MADE BY NIGHT by Tochi Onyebuchi
Set in the city of Kos, filled with corrupt mages that can give sin that they call forth from sinners physical attributes in the form of sin beasts, fatal creatures spawned from the feelings of guilt of the sinners. The protagonist, Taj, is a talented sin eater, contracted by the mages to slay the sin beasts. Seventeen year old Taj does this dangerous job to provide for his family at the risk of his life as sin eating has lethal consequences. When he is called into the royal family to eat the sin of a member of the royal family, he is thrust into the center of a dark conspiracy to destroy his city, and now he must save himself and his lover.
The novel is a dark fantasy work by renowned sci-fi and fiction writer Tochi Onyebuchi. For lovers of dark thrillers, gripping works and a whole lot of action, this is the one for you.
• ROSEWATER by Tade Thompson
Who doesn’t love a sci-fi set in a very dystopian future? Tade Thompson in his work tells the story of Kaaro, a cyber investigator and government agent, and the town of Rosewater, that is built around an alien biodome. Once a year, the biodome opens and heals people and gifts people special powers, Kaaro being one of them, as well as reanimating corpses. Kaaro must now investigate the mysterious illnesses that have befallen his comrades as well as the aliens and their actual purpose. Set in a very dystopian 2066 Nigeria, Rosewater is a grim tale of both physical and mental violence, all grimly crafted in a nightmarish world.
• THE PALMWINE DRUNKARD by Amos Tutuola
Old is gold! And nothing more voices that than arguably one of the most historical works when it comes to fantasy writing in Nigeria. The story is a classic quest tale where the hero, a lazy youth who wastes his time getting drunk on palm wine. He sets out on a journey to find his deceased palm wine tapster in the land of the Dead. In the course of his journey, he gains wisdom, overcomes many perils and finally confronts death. It’s a beautiful and comical coming of age story that readers can fall in love with easily. Because Tutuola’s story is written in Yoruba, it makes the translation somewhat funny and quirky, but that still adds to the magic of story. So for lovers of adventure and laughs, why not take a journey with the loveable palm wine drunkard and see how his tale ends.