SHIGIDI AND THE BRASS HEAD OF OBALUFON

298pp., paperback, Gollancz, London, 2025

ISBN: 9781399615679

Winner of the Nommo Award.

A debut African fantasy thriller and love story about two immortals who steal from the British Museum.

"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 Moxyland

"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

Wole Talabi is an engineer, writer, and editor from Nigeria. He has edited five anthologies including Africanfuturism (2020) and Mothersound (2023).