Don’t Answer When They Call Your Name by Ukamaka Olisakwe

I must say Ukamaka deserves her flowers in Don’t Answer When They Call Your Name. It’s a beautiful story, though I wish it ended differently.

When I came across this book through the author’s tweet on X (Twitter), I imagined what the storyline would be like. At first, I thought it might be a thriller, but the book turned out to be different from what I had expected.

One thing to note is that Don’t Answer When They Call Your Name will set your imaginative mind in motion, which will keep you hooked.

It’s a blend of fantasy and suspense with an African touch, embodying the Igbo myth and supernatural activities. Furthermore, it blends the natural world with the supernatural.

Synopsis

The story begins with a prologue that introduces us to Big Father and Big Mother, whose activities are seen as the bedrock of the plot.

Big Father is a dedicated farmer with a large, prosperous yam farm. In contrast, Big Mother is a woman who desires to engage in male tasks such as planting yam crops right from a young age.

However, Big Mother couldn’t get her desires fulfilled even after she married Big Father, and he promised to fulfill her desires. It was in this rage she destroyed his precious yam farm, which resulted in her death and brought about the choosing of an Aja to atone for her sins.

The book is set in Ani Mmadu, a village in Eastern Nigeria. Its inhabitants are familiar with the story of Big Father and Big Mother, the consequences of Big Mother’s actions, and how it has affected them.

To atone for the actions of Big Mother, they must send an Aja- a child chosen by the Oracle every ten years to the furthest end of the Forest of Iniquity, to Orimili- the heart of the river which was a source of water for the villagers, and walk back.

If the child were successful, water would be restored to the dried streams. Still, if the child wasn’t successful, then such a child would be forever stuck in the Forest of Iniquity, leaving the parents devasted for life and an extra year of famine for the villagers.

When the streams in the village dried up, the people knew It was time to send an Aja to the forest for the atonement of sin. When It fell on Adanne, there were mixed feelings. The priestess is joyful that Aja has been chosen for this work.

On the other hand, the mother of the chosen child is sorrowful about it because her only hope and companion after losing her husband has been selected for this work.

Regardless, Adanne sets on this journey in the company of her dog, Obi. Her journey in the Forest of Iniquity is adventurous and enchanting, as she is transported to different supernatural worlds, engaging with other supernatural beings (spirits of those that have died and have been transported to the supernatural world, encountering Big Mother..), and encountering obstacles on her way to atone for the sins of Big Mother summarizesAdanne’ss journey in the forest of Iniquity.

Thoughts

This is the first time I’ve read a book like this. I mostly read thrillers and crime investigation books, but I think I should invest more time in reading fantasy books like this, as they throw me into such a brilliant world of adventures.

I must say Ukamaka deserves her flowers in Don’t Answer When They Call Your Name. It’s a beautiful story, though I wish it ended differently. Okay, I’m recommending this African Fantasy book

Don’t let it pass you by!