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The Genesis of O̩lópè̩é̩rè̩ Núgà, as the only surviving son of the late baálè̩ (chief) of Agbèlé, has an important choice to make: become the new baálè̩ of the new town and immediately assume the position of o̩ba (king) or be entrusted instead with the irksome task of establishing a warrior corps to protect against hostile neighbours. One would bring adoration, and the other would be rigorous work. As he contemplates the impossible decision, a storm hits. In the aftermath, Núgà walks through Ugbó Òrìs̩à (forest of the gods) and is struck by the beauty of nature – destruction contrasted with perfection. Upon his return home, he throws the ò̩pè̩lè̩ (the divining beads) to ask for guidance in making his decision. When he meets with the O̩ba of Pàkálà to discuss his position and the declaration of the council, his decision to forfeit his claim to the o̩baship is accepted in deference to his advanced years, and the four realms of sixteen hamlets are thus merged into one under a single o̩ba, a position which Núgà’s nephew O̩rè̩tùsa is nominated to assume. Upon O̩rè̩tùsa’s enthronement, the O̩ló̩ópè̩é̩rè̩, the band of warriors responsible for the security and defence of Ògèrè, are urgently recruited and trained from among the region’s young men. Núgà, much admired and revered for his leadership, weaponry skills and faith, is placed in charge and given the title Balógun. In a twist of betrayal, Núgà’s beloved attendant, Ò̩s̩o̩kò, is murdered by the Balógun’s own cousins – hung from a tree in Ugbó Òrìs̩à. The forest is from then on known as Ugbó Aláìlè (the cursed forest).

‘The Genesis of O̩lópè̩é̩rè̩’ tells the history of how the four lands and sixteen villages are combined under the rule of one o̩ba (king) and how Núgà, as the only surviving son of the late baálè̩ (chief) of Agbèlé and apparent o̩ba, chooses instead to lead the new band of warriors charged with protecting the new land. In the ‘The Skirmish at Rògòdò’, an o̩ba’s obsession with a betrothed woman leads him to break tradition and sully his reign forever. ‘My Friend and Comrade’ is a story of revenge against a Balógun (commander) that shows that faith and friendship is stronger than malice. In the ‘The Trump Card’, two childhood friends with very different ambitions fall in love with the same woman. In the end, true love, honesty and purity win over avarice, lust and vanity. ‘What’s in a Name?’ explains the importance of names not only on the child itself but in culture and family. ‘A Mother’s Dilemma’ tells the story of triplets separated at birth who are caught in a foster father’s plot to wed one of the sisters. In ‘The Power of Love’, the beautiful Salima succumbs to loneliness and gluttony. Only love can save her from her ever-expanding waistline. In ‘Kúsa: A Tale of the Three Ks’, a retired customs officer moves in next door to the smuggler he has always failed to fully uncover. ‘Always Remember, Together We Stand’ tells the story of an ailing father and much younger wife and their unconventional request for the son to give the wife something the husband can no longer provide. In ‘The Riddle of the Inheritance’, when a son continually runs from his home and father, it’s not until after his father’s death that he realizes his destiny is there all along. The ‘Sequel to Usì’ tells of the Yorùbá gods’ second coming to earth to introduce the leaders of the sixteen communities to the ways of Èdùmàrè (Creator of the Heavens and Earth). ‘Much More Than Footprints’ begins as the story of a lonely funeral but in the end proves that we all can have a mark on someone’s life. In ‘Every Dark Cloud Has a Silver Lining’, a childhood fight leads to a lifelong friendship that teaches that everyone should be valued despite their station in life. ‘Farouk’ is the story of a blind beggar who is neither blind nor a true beggar. ‘But for the Office Pushpins’ shows that ingenuity and perseverance are the keys to success. ‘His Own Greatest Enemy’ not only recounts the devastation of traditional culture and tribal language by foreign oppressors but also highlights the importance of instilling honorable leadership within the new regime.