Nnedi Okorafor's acclaimed first novel for middle grade readers introduces a boy who can access super powers with the help of the magical Ikenga. Nnamdi's father was a good chief of police, perhaps the best Kalaria had ever had. He was determined to root out the criminals that had invaded the town. But then he was murdered, and most people believed the Chief of Chiefs, most powerful of the criminals, was responsible. Nnamdi has vowed to avenge his father, but he wonders what a twelve-year-old boy can do. Until a mysterious nighttime meeting, the gift of a magical object that enables super powers, and a charge to use those powers for good changes his life forever. How can he fulfill his mission? How will he learn to control his newfound powers? Award-winning Nnedi Okorafor, acclaimed for her Akata novels, introduces a new and engaging hero in her first novel for middle grade readers set against a richly textured background of contemporary Nigeria.

An NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR An AMAZON BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF 2020 Nnedi Okorafor's acclaimed first novel for middle grade readers introduces a boy who can access super powers with the help of the magical Ikenga. Nnamdi's father was a good chief of police, perhaps the best Kalaria had ever had. He was determined to root out the criminals that had invaded the town. But then he was murdered, and most people believed the Chief of Chiefs, most powerful of the criminals, was responsible. Nnamdi has vowed to avenge his father, but he wonders what a twelve-year-old boy can do. Until a mysterious nighttime meeting, the gift of a magical object that enables super powers, and a charge to use those powers for good changes his life forever. How can he fulfill his mission? How will he learn to control his newfound powers? Award-winning Nnedi Okorafor, acclaimed for her Akata novels, introduces a new and engaging hero in her first novel for middle grade readers set against a richly textured background of contemporary Nigeria.

For thousands of years under one deity, humans, animals, and nature coexisted in peace and harmony in the progressive rainforest enclave called Yoyoland. But now, the arrival of a half-human immigrant from the animal kingdom has brought change. Civilization and adherence to one religion, which characterized Yoyoland and stood it apart, has quickly given way to bloodletting, wars, dark forces, sorceries, and witchcraft. A runaway immigrant named Ikiko dishonored the god of her land and was judged in the highest chamber in her kingdom. She exiled herself and immigrated to Yoyoland. She became pregnant and bore a daughter called Aboma. Aboma, a powerful queen of witches, is dominated by evil forces and is pregnant at birth, bearing a son named Ikenga. With her well-trained army of wizards, warlocks and goblins, she ruthlessly fights any religion and deity that are not hers. Enter Elechi: the one-man army and the ordained parson of Yoyoland, who swears an oath to destroy Aboma and any religion and deity that are not his. Birth of the Witch King is the first of four books of the Chronicles of Ikenga. Set in a torturous world of "live and don't let live," it tells of vicious wars, magic, sorceries, the supernatural, and monsters.

"It's a new African fictional consomme, sweet like new wine as it were; but full of substance like an old one; having been brewed from an aged palm on an African fertile soil, yet by a sagacious tapper-son in diaspora. A coherent and competent literature for scholars of African cosmology, culture, philosophy, history and traditional religion (ATR) to mention but a few. This text-visual thriller is at one time calm and intense, and at another pathetic, yet didactic to the world in general. A literary masterpiece and a must read for any who would like to emigrate!" Fr. Ositadimma Amakeze (Author of the Lost Carver, Teeth of a Snail) "There is progressive awareness widespread among the Igbos at home and in diaspora concerning the 'Greener Pasture' illusion. Woes of Ikenga presents a window-view to what life in Europe could be like; and at the same time a doorway to liberation for the victims of an "Idealised Treasure Island." John Paul Afuecheta The author tells a thought-provoking story of the struggle for survival and the illusive search for "greener pastures' in a land said to be 'flowing with milk and honey." Woes of Ikenga is the story of a young man's quest for success in a foreign land. Unfortunately he proves too indoctrinated in the omenani of his people to fit in and "behave as Romans when in Rome." Amarachukwu Chimeka (SFEP Associate) "This is simply fantastic, narrative, engaging and superlatively tantalizing. In this mind blowing and thrilling stories of war and its challenging circumstances in Africa and the erroneous mindset of certitude of greener pasture; once traveled out to the white man's land, by some Africans, the author has masterfully and courageously stepped towards the shoes of the likes of the Grand Commanders of African literature, Chinualumogu Achebe, Cyprain Ekwensi, Mariama Ba etc. Surely he is a few miles closer to them and will definitely find his voice. The novel is worth anybody's time." ___OGUEGBU, OSTENDE UDOKA. Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Achievement seems to be a first-class value in our world today. With the ongoing global debate on what constitutes identity, can we include achievement as one of the constituents? In the Igbo/African identity, the achievement instinct is basically innate. The ethics of this phenomenon needs an evaluation, aimed at improving the status quo. What is the plight of the Igbo/African "achieving" in the face of modern capitalistic tendencies? What has become of the many other values in her identity, which has been her pride as a race? How is her religiosity (which is inseparable from daily living) affected by "modernity" and its new trends of the achievement ethos? These are some of the issues that are addressed in this book with the conviction that theology, achievement and identity are continuity.

"This African-based fantasy concerns a benevolent sorceress and her younger brothers attempt to keep an evil spirit from manifesting itself into the world. When the great witch Agadi Nwanyi is given two crown amulets from Ikenga, the supreme god, she understands what needs to be done in order to keep Iluowa from bringing his darkness to the temporal world. Realizing that the powerful amulets could corrupt her and her brother, the duo decides to find two of the kindest and most courageous men in all of Umuokwute and give the magical items to them. Thus begins a multi-generational journey in which the storyline chronicles the lives of those who wear the amulets and their journeys throughout the Sister Lands."-BlueInk Review