5 Nigerian Fantasy Books Reimagining Ancient Myths

The Oxford Dictionary defines a myth as a traditional story that particularly concerns the early history of a people or one that explains a natural or social phenomenon, and typically involves supernatural beings or events. As children, many of us were led to believe that the practice of traditional religion, which involved the worship of deities, was inherently evil, and that other traditional elements were not to be spoken of. Seeking to fuel our curiosity, some instead turned to Western fantasy literature, taking an interest in the gods of Greek and Roman mythology. However, Nigerian mythology extends far beyond just deities. Ancient traditions, such as the concepts of Abiku, Ogbanje, and other traditional cosmologies, hold a prominent place in Nigerian traditional mythology. 

In this light, here are some books that have reimagined these ancient Nigerian myths and woven them into modern stories.

1. The Icarus Girl – Helen Oyeyemi (2005)

The cover of this debut novel from Nigerian-British author Helen Oyeyemi immediately welcomes the reader with an eerie image: a young girl donning the white wing of an angel, with an ominous shadow looming in the background. True to this foreboding cover, The Icarus Girl falls within the horror genre, telling the story of Jessamy, a troubled young girl with a mixed heritage who struggles to fit in with her peers. 

When Jessamy’s family visits Nigeria, she meets a mysterious new friend who ends up following her back to England. This friend, however, proves to be dangerous and only Jessamy can see her. The novel employs the Yoruba concept of Abiku—a child that dies and is reborn continuously—and traditional African medicine, interweaving themes of mixed racial identity, family dynamics, and mental illness with nuance and insight. 

2. Akata Witch – Nnedi Okorafor (2011)

Nnedi Okorafor’s Akata Witch has been hailed as the “Nigerian Harry Potter”, a fantasy novel that introduces readers to a vibrant and immersive magical world rooted in Yoruba traditions. At the center of the story is Sunny Nwazue, a 12-year-old albino girl born in America who, upon moving to Nigeria, discovers a magical reality alongside her newfound friends.

Through Sunny’s eyes, the reader is transported into a realm where the supernatural abilities of the “leopard people”—shape-shifting, dimensional travel, and the practice of juju (magic)—are not merely fantastical elements, but an integral part of the rich Yoruba cosmology. 

3. The Fishermen – Chigozie Obioma (2015)

Chigozie Obioma’s The Fishermen weaves a bildungsroman narrative, following the journey of the youngest of four brothers. The four siblings, driven by adventure, venture out fishing in the Omi Ala River, a body of water steeped in Igbo superstition and cultural taboos. 

When the brothers receive a mysterious prophecy during one of their expeditions to the river, it marks the beginning of a profound unraveling within their family. Obioma masterfully incorporates Igbo idioms, proverbs, and folkloric elements to tell this captivating story, deftly blending tradition and modern religious influences.

4. Children of Blood and Bone – Tomi Adeyemi (2018)

In writing her acclaimed debut novel Children of Blood and Bone, Adeyemi notes that the inspiration came owing to the Black Lives Matter movement. Through her epic fantasy tale, Adeyemi sought to celebrate and appreciate Black skin in all its vibrant glory while exploring Yoruba culture. Adeyemi’s portrayal of African magic and spirituality departs from the common Western narrative that tends to associate African spirituality with darkness or malevolence. 

Instead, she captures the rich complexity of these ancient traditions, showcasing both their awe-inspiring power and their deep cultural significance. In doing so, Adeyemi subverts the limiting “good vs. evil” dichotomy that has historically oversimplified the representation of African mythologies, much like the way the “jazz” (Nigerian voodoo) has been often mischaracterized.

5. Freshwater – Akwaeke Emezi (2018)

Freshwater is a captivating narrative that delves into the complex inner world of Ada, an Igbo girl whose connection to the spiritual realm is profoundly open and unguarded. The story explores a distinct form of psychological fragmentation and “madness” as we are immersed in the diverse perspectives of the various entities residing within Ada’s consciousness.

Emezi skillfully incorporates the Igbo mythological concept of Ogbanje, the belief in evil spirits or “witch children” who repeatedly die and are reborn. This term was ignorantly used in the past to describe the tragic phenomenon of children with sickle-cell genotype, Emezi cleverly repurposes it to craft a compelling exploration of Igbo cosmology and its interplay with mental illness and identity.