Otanjele by Osita Obi

For as long as she can remember, Otanjele has been a spirit child tracing the circle of birth, death, and rebirth; going from a spirit that dwells in the border between the unborn and the living, to a human child destined to die soon after birth. But one day, on the eve of another rebirth, everything changes. For the first time, Otanjele discovers the freedom of making her own choices and the power that comes from being able to use her imagination. As she explores these new ideas, her journey leads her to an entirely new territory. Friendship.

Anunu-ebe is a neglected human boy with a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for adventure. The minute they meet, a strong connection based on a taste for freedom, escape and wanderlust makes them fast friends. Together, they embark on many adventures, the small and the grand, flitting between spirit worlds and earthly homes. But once again, things are about to change for Otanjele. While for Anunu-ebe, a danger lurks.

“Reminds me of Ben Okri’s The Famished Road and well beyond it. Once you have read the first paragraph it’s impossible to put this book aside.” Ezinne Britney Muoghalu, winner, Writers Space Africa (WSA) Magazine award 2022.