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Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon

The Nebula Award finalist and gripping magical heist novel

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Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon

By: Wole Talabi
Narrated by: Ben Arogundade
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Summary

 The Nommo Award Winner.
The Nebula Award Finalist.
The World Fantasy Award Finalist.
The British Science Fiction Award Nominee.

A contemporary fantasy filled with the mythos of Nigeria.

Shigidi is the god of nightmares.
Once a feared and powerful member of the Yoruba spirit world, these days he haunts people for scraps of power, which he must give up to the executives of the Orisha Spirit Company.

Nneoma is a deadly succubus.
Fierce, independent and unpredictable, she's not afraid to take dangerous risks to free herself from the mistakes of her past.

Two soulmates. One bid for freedom.
To gain the independence they both desire, the two of them are about to embark on a heist that spans both the real world and the spiritual world. But they'll find far more than they bargained for in the depths of the British Museum . . .

A supernatural adventure novel rich in Nigerian mythology, and an eviscerating examination of cultural theft in the real world. This is perfect for fans of P. Djeli Clark, Nnedi Okorafor and Ben Aaronovitch. Action & Adventure Fantasy Fiction Magic World Literature Magic Users
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Critic reviews

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
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
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!
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.
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!
A heist caper with sex, violence, and superpowers popping off every technicolor page . . . Readers are in for a rollicking thrill ride
A captivating and entertaining story of a nightmare god and his succubus lover, Nneoma, pulling a heist across two worlds
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
[A] delightfully entertaining novel . . . a defiantly ambitious work . . . [and] also an action-packed thrill ride . . . Talabi's snarky narration keeps the tone light, while leaving room for a sweet love story
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
All stars
Most relevant
A very well paced and exciting! A heist drama infused with W. African lore. A brilliant interpretation of the global spirituality franchises. Talabi never disappoints.

Brilliant story!

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I have given up on talking about people who read Nigerian stories. Saying that, as lovely as his voice is, (sound, texture etc...) I would have loved it even more if the voice actor was familiar with Nigerian phrases and colloquialisms. Not utilising the opportunity to say, "Kabiyesi" took away from it. I did love his take on Nneoma. He sounded like her and that was great! On the story, I loved this so much. It is an exciting read. A story that shows all the wonderful things that can happen when you have the right mentor. A story of the posibilities and capability. I look forward to more from this writer.

This would make an amazing movie

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This was chosen by my book group. I don’t appreciate the world of fantasy and so this was never likely to land.

I appreciated elements of it: the appearances of Fela Kuti and Aleister Crowley, the idea of religions as corporate entities, and some of the world building.

Overall though, it was tosh. Enjoyable tosh is parts but tosh nonetheless. I am glad to be finished with it.

Not really my thing

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