Shigidi And the Brass Head Of Obalufon

SHIGIDI AND THE BRASS HEAD OF OBALUFON

A Washington Post top 10 best science fiction and fantasy book of 2023

A former nightmare god in the Orisha spirit company and a succubus with a long and secretive past are tasked with liberating a Nigerian artefact from London’s British Museum. This is a heist novel filled to the brim with magic.

“A heist caper with sex, violence, and superpowers popping off every technicolor page.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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Description:

Shigidi is a disgruntled nightmare god in the Orisha spirit company, reluctantly answering the prayers of his few remaining believers to satisfy the demands of the company board. When he meets Nneoma, a sort-of succubus with a long and secretive past, everything changes.

Together, they attempt to break free of their constraints and live on their owns terms. But the elder gods have other plans for Shigidi, and the Orisha Spirit Company is not so easy to leave. The chairman has a final job for Shigidi and Nneoma, one that will take them to the very heart of the British Museum.

From the boisterous streets of Lagos to the rooftop bars of Singapore and the secret spaces of London, Shigidi and Nneoma will encounter strange creatures, rival gods and manipulative magicians as they are drawn into a spectacular heist that spans two realms . . . and which could turn their own worlds upside down . . .

Praise:

“Readers of Neil Gaiman and Harry Turtledove will have encountered similar takes on the spirit realm; Talabi’s freshness is in his language, his caustically amusing protagonist, and his commitment to having more fun than noir usually allows. Readers are in for a rollicking thrill ride.“ —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Pure post-colonial magic and huge, heisty fun” — Daily Mail

“Defiantly ambitious…an action-packed thrill ride…. Talabi’s snarky narration keeps the tone light, while leaving room for a sweet love story.” —The Washington Post

“A vivid, entertaining tale of love, power and revenge.” —The Guardian

“Talabi keeps in balance his kinetic mix of noir heist fiction, erotic romance, political intrigue, and supernatural fireworks without distracting too much from the genuinely affecting relationship between Nneoma and Shigidi, who are a pair we wouldn’t mind seeing again, and won’t forget anytime soon.” —Locus

“Talabi weaves a high-stakes, fast-paced tale of corporate greed, an interdimensional heist, and warring deities entrenched in Yoruba culture. Perfect for fans of the Ocean’s film franchise and Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006), this book will have readers holding their breath as Shigidi and Nneoma try to accomplish the impossible.” —Booklist

“Rich in lore, deeply referential of the fantasy genre, instructive without being preachy and accessible even to casual readers…a fine display of Talabi’s dexterity as a writer and his keen eye for story and a fine demonstration of how grossly underutilized African mythology has been in world fantasy.” —Edwin Okolo, The Republic

“Complex, entertaining, and absolutely fun – and beyond that, heartwarming in its characters and in its conclusions. A story which left me wanting to believe in it” — Genevieve Cogman, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Invisible Library series

“A smart, sexy, postcolonial book about two freelance gods running from their past and stealing from the British Museum. I had so much fun with these characters and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Perfect for fans of American Gods” — Thomas D. Lee, Sunday Times bestselling author of Perilous Times

“An unabashedly erotic and page-turning tale, blending the urban and the mythic in a manner somewhat reminiscent of Neil Gaiman’s works, yet fizzing with a kinetic energy which, at least within the genre of contemporary adult fantasy, feels utterly refreshing and gloriously entertaining.” —Strange Horizons

“Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon is an explosion made of other explosions. As soon as I read the opening—taut, rollicking, rooted in physicality and emotion—I was charmed. This book is incantation, a sorcerous working that bound me to its story and drew me along as it sped toward its destination. Wole Talabi is a brilliant short fiction writer, and now he is revealed as a brilliant novelist, as well!” —Alex Jennings, author of The Ballad of Perilous Graves

“anchored in African beliefs, but with a global perspective and modern twists” — SFX, 5 stars

“Fast and sharp as talons, Shigidi is a high-stakes art heist love story with Nigerian gods and demons and some Succession-level corporate politics and Alan Moore-ish deep dives into occult lore and mythologies. If you thought Killmonger was right or loved American Gods and Akata Witch, this one is very much for you.” —Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls and Broken Monsters

“Wole Talabi brings us an imaginative tale of ancient deities with modern problems–where answering prayers and winning at the cut throat competition for adherents is the best way to maintain the bottomline. Shigidi is a richly written story of love between immortals, a high stakes supernatural heist, and a sweeping adventure across time, space, and perhaps realms of existence. This is godpunk, done with style. And I’m absolutely here for it!” —P. Djèlí Clark, author of A Master of Djinn and Abeni’s Song

“A high octane thriller that is simply unputdownable. Talabi deftly weaves different mythos spanning centuries across continents and borders to create a truly fantastical story. Gods, demons, magicians, giants, all jostling for power and prestige within an all too human story. This remarkable debut rocked my world.” —T. L. Huchu, author of The Library of the Dead

“Shigidi is a tale that will excite any lover of contemporary African fantasy. What better thrill than two globetrotting, timetrotting, worldtrotting beings caught between a love story, a heist and a ghastly contract with a spirit company? Talabi’s imagination, already obvious in previous works, shines through, offering us a world of deities and monstrosities trading in belief and supplication. An innovative addition to the godpunk roster—if you loved David Mogo, you’ll love this!” —Suyi Davies Okungbowa, author of the Nameless Republic trilogy

“For those who feel as if they’ve been waiting years for a novel by Wole Talabi, Shigidi surpasses expectations. It’s fast-paced and fun, clever and beautiful. Filled with characters you want to spend time with in a world that is fresh and exciting.” —Temi Oh, author of Do You Dream Of Terra-Two and More Perfect

“Shigidi is a multi-hued narrative where fear is a colour…this is a tale that will unmoor any reader from the safety of their comfort zone to gallivant, stimulated, across spirit worlds and cityscapes.” —Aurealis

Interviews and Media:

  • Virtual Launch with John Wiswell hosted by Mysterious Galaxy bookstore:
  • Virtual Book Launch with T L Huchu and sistah Scifi hosted by University Bookstore in Seattle
  • Live Panel at Ake Festival with Ayanna Lloyd Banwo and Abdullareem Baba-Aminu:
  • Interview on The Mythical Episode of the Roving Heights Podcast: