Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon

This novel wasn't even on my radar until I saw a Facebook post about it. I wasn't even aware that Wole Talabi had written a book. But since his short story "A Dream of Electric Mothers" turned out to be one of my favorite pieces from the Africa Risen anthology, I requested a review copy so I could read and review his debut.

The tale that is Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon began as a novelette published in 2016. The novel-length project clocks in at 315 pages and that's with all the back stories of everyone involved attached to it. And though the sum of all these parts work rather well, all things considered, like most short fiction writers it appears that Talabi might be better suited to writing short stories than longer works. Time will tell if that's the case. Yet as entertaining as this debut was, the story of the heist was a little thin. Be that as it may, I enjoyed the book and went through it in just a few sittings.

Here's the blurb:

The debut fantasy novel from an award-winning Nigerian author presents a mythic tale of disgruntled gods, revenge, and a heist across two worlds.

Shigidi is a disgruntled and demotivated nightmare god in the Orisha spirit company, reluctantly answering prayers of his few remaining believers to maintain his existence long enough to find his next drink. When he meets Nneoma, a sort-of succubus with a long and secretive past, everything changes for him.

Together, they attempt to break free of his obligations and the restrictions that have bound him to his godhood and navigate the parameters of their new relationship in the shadow of her past. But the elder gods that run the Orisha spirit company have other plans for Shigidi, and they are not all aligned--or good.

From the boisterous streets of Lagos to the swanky rooftop bars of Singapore and the secret spaces of London, Shigidi and Nneoma will encounter old acquaintances, rival gods, strange creatures, and manipulative magicians as they are drawn into a web of revenge, spirit business, and a spectacular heist across two worlds that will change Shigidi's understanding of himself forever and determine the fate of the Orisha spirit company.

Faith and religion as a corporate system, with its own treatises and codified rules and regulations having force of law between various spirit companies, was a most fascinating concept. It truly gives Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon its unique flavor. This was a very original twist, one that fully intrigued me and kept me interested throughout the novel. The panoply of disparate locales featured in this one--Nigeria, Malaysia, England, Algeria, Ethiopia, and more--also kept things refreshing. The occasional use of Nigerian slang gave this work an authentic feel, although I must admit that I had to look up a number of words, especially regarding clothes, to understand how people were dressed.

There are many flashback sequences meant to flesh out events and protagonists, most of them right before or after the scenes that made them necessary to make sense of what was taking place in the present. I know some readers have issues with flashbacks, but I feel that Talabi placed them at exactly the right time. As such, in my opinion they enhance the reading experience instead of getting in the way of the storytelling.

The title implies that Shigidi takes center stage, yet it's not the case. He is one of the main protagonists, true, but he shares the spotlight with a number of other characters. Given his past incarnation, one might be inclined to excuse his whiny and needy demeanor. Still, I found him a bit of a chore to put up with at times. Nneoma has way more layers and was a more fascinating character to discover. I won't spoil anything, but it was enthralling to consider the fact that she and her sister are figures from ancient religious mysticism. Perusing online reviews, it seems that some readers were put off by certain sex scenes. Personally, I didn't see any problems with those scenes. Nneoma is a succubus, so seducing and taking control of people through sex and desire are part of her nature. Hence, unless you are a veritable prude, there is nothing in this novel that should shock you. Aleister, a magician owing a debt to the succubus, is another POV character who has a role to play, both in the past and the present. The rest of the supporting cast is mostly made up of gods and goddesses from the Orisha spirit company. And I dare you to find a more disparate bunch of mortals and immortals!

The size of this book precludes any pacing issues and the whole thing moves at a good clip from start to finish. I was afraid that the flashbacks would slow the rhythm of the story, yet they are often more engaging than the heist itself. Indeed, these scenes are the glue that hold the plot together and the revelations they contain are what makes Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon such a compelling read. And though it's described as an adventure fantasy, or a heist, this novel is more about a star-crossed love story between a most unlikely duo. I would definitely read another work featuring this odd couple. The ending leaves the door open for future adventures/misadventures, so there is hope that we haven't seen the last of them. However, one has to wonder if we'll see them in another novel-length project. Given that this one barely a short novel, even with all the flasback sequences, it remains to be seen whether or not whatever comes next will be in novella or novelette form.

Godpunk isn't always accessible for Western genre readers. But Wole Talabi came up with a supernatural thriller that incorporates a tragic love story and various mythos, all of which culminating into an imaginative and entertaining fantasy debut that should appeal to anyone who enjoys a good story.

The final verdict: 7.75/10

For more info about this title, check out this Amazon Associate link.