About

"Forest of a Thousand Daemons" (FOTD) is a story based on West African (Yoruba) Mythology and folklore. Originally written as a novel in Yoruba language and titled Ògbójú Ọdẹ nínú Igbó Irúnmọlẹ̀, it’s one of the first full feature novels ever to be written in an African indigenous language. It was translated to English in 1982 by Nigerian playwright, poet, essayist and Nobel Prize winner for Literature and first African Laureate, Wole Soyinka.

 

It begins as a narration where a brave and powerful hunter Akara-Ogun (Compound of Spells) narrates his ordeals during his adventurous deadly expeditions around the universe starting with his Journey to the Forest of a Thousand Demons. He encounters all sort of magical creatures and mysterious beings along this journey. 

 

The story is set in a mythical, universe with a traditional African feel and strong elements of folklore and magic. There’s Olodumare, who’s God the king, the all-knowing, unseen one who dwells in The Dome of Heaven and creates the Earth for pure humans.

 

High treason is committed, a fierce battle ensues and the Great Fall occurs and earth is divided into multiple Kingdoms: The Land of Humans, The Forests (Forest of a Thousand Daemons/The Great Forest/The Forest of God), Kingdom of Ghommids (Black Elves/Ghommans), City of Filth (Land of the dead), The Great Mountains (Mount Langbodo/City of Birds), and The Depths of Hell.