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A review by sophiasunlitreads
Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi
adventurous
emotional
funny
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This audiobook was given to me in exchange for an honest review
Gods, Heists, Steamy and Chaotic.
Shigidi and the brass head of Obalufon is the recent published work of award winning Nigerian Speculative Fiction author, Wole Talabi.
Firstly, if you missed Aké Arts and Book Festival 2023, sorry because I have a personally signed copy of this book. That's all.
Shigidi and the brass head of Obalufon is a refreshing take at Speculative Fiction especially on Africanjujuism and Yoruba Mythologies in Fiction.
The story sets off literally in a speed car chase with our main character, the nightmare god, Shigidi, barely able to stay alive after a heist gone wrong.
Growing up, I've always been fascinated with mythologies, particularly Nigerian mythologies. And like every story we only get to explore major gods. And it's no different from Yoruba mythologies.
So, reading Shigidi and the brass head of Obalufon and discovering a new lesser god, Shigidi, meant a lot to me.
The story follows Nightmare god, Shigidi created with only one job— to give humans nightmares. It reminds me Dream in Neil Gaiman's The Sandman.
Shigidi is a story that raises the stakes of self discovery but on a god level. In his conversation at Aké Arts and Book Festival, Wole Talabi (paraphrasing) spoke about how raising the scales of a simple Speculative question by making the subject in question endowed with inhumane powers or abilities.
In simple words, Shigidi is a character who questions his existence and his need and his role in the bigger picture.
The intriguing play Wole makes with this fantastical novel is making the Orishas a capitalist company that runs on human praise/worship currency.
Like Neil Gaiman's American gods and even Good Omens that takes a play at humanising these deities and cosmic beings. We see these gods in a humane lens. Their desires, their schemes and coys ways to continually replenish their worship banks in a world that no longer recognises the powers of old.
Set in the 20th century, Shigidi is forced to make deals alongside with his succubus lover, Nneoma, as they attempt to break into the spirit side to steal from the British Museum, London.
The characters of this books are intriguing from the main characters to the side characters.
Because of how Wole writes, we see Shigidi in a more passionate, intimate simple lens that I really enjoyed.
Often times, Fantasy stories emphasis on the power levels of these gods and not necessarily on their weaknesses.
We see how vulnerable Shigidi as well as Nneoma becomes when the decide to embark on changes and meet challenges on different accounts in this book.
This books sparks a lot of conversation about who we are and how much of our own heritage is being lost over the years due to different reasons like colonisation and so many others.
Shigidi and the brass head of Obalufon is an epic wild ride of gods who scheme and use dirty tricks like humans. gods that are willing to do anything to stay relevant.
I absolutely enjoyed listening to this audiobook via Recorded Books Media. Thank you for the arc audiobook.
If you're looking for a fast paced novel about gods, heists, passionate lovers and of course risks and chaos. Shigidi and the brass head of Obalufon should be on your cart this December and your reading lists and Book Club picks.
Gods, Heists, Steamy and Chaotic.
Shigidi and the brass head of Obalufon is the recent published work of award winning Nigerian Speculative Fiction author, Wole Talabi.
Firstly, if you missed Aké Arts and Book Festival 2023, sorry because I have a personally signed copy of this book. That's all.
Shigidi and the brass head of Obalufon is a refreshing take at Speculative Fiction especially on Africanjujuism and Yoruba Mythologies in Fiction.
The story sets off literally in a speed car chase with our main character, the nightmare god, Shigidi, barely able to stay alive after a heist gone wrong.
Growing up, I've always been fascinated with mythologies, particularly Nigerian mythologies. And like every story we only get to explore major gods. And it's no different from Yoruba mythologies.
So, reading Shigidi and the brass head of Obalufon and discovering a new lesser god, Shigidi, meant a lot to me.
The story follows Nightmare god, Shigidi created with only one job— to give humans nightmares. It reminds me Dream in Neil Gaiman's The Sandman.
Shigidi is a story that raises the stakes of self discovery but on a god level. In his conversation at Aké Arts and Book Festival, Wole Talabi (paraphrasing) spoke about how raising the scales of a simple Speculative question by making the subject in question endowed with inhumane powers or abilities.
In simple words, Shigidi is a character who questions his existence and his need and his role in the bigger picture.
The intriguing play Wole makes with this fantastical novel is making the Orishas a capitalist company that runs on human praise/worship currency.
Like Neil Gaiman's American gods and even Good Omens that takes a play at humanising these deities and cosmic beings. We see these gods in a humane lens. Their desires, their schemes and coys ways to continually replenish their worship banks in a world that no longer recognises the powers of old.
Set in the 20th century, Shigidi is forced to make deals alongside with his succubus lover, Nneoma, as they attempt to break into the spirit side to steal from the British Museum, London.
The characters of this books are intriguing from the main characters to the side characters.
Because of how Wole writes, we see Shigidi in a more passionate, intimate simple lens that I really enjoyed.
Often times, Fantasy stories emphasis on the power levels of these gods and not necessarily on their weaknesses.
We see how vulnerable Shigidi as well as Nneoma becomes when the decide to embark on changes and meet challenges on different accounts in this book.
This books sparks a lot of conversation about who we are and how much of our own heritage is being lost over the years due to different reasons like colonisation and so many others.
Shigidi and the brass head of Obalufon is an epic wild ride of gods who scheme and use dirty tricks like humans. gods that are willing to do anything to stay relevant.
I absolutely enjoyed listening to this audiobook via Recorded Books Media. Thank you for the arc audiobook.
If you're looking for a fast paced novel about gods, heists, passionate lovers and of course risks and chaos. Shigidi and the brass head of Obalufon should be on your cart this December and your reading lists and Book Club picks.