He claims to be an only child, orphaned two decades earlier by a tragic accident. But the truth is far messier—he has never known his biological father, and as for the woman who insists she gave birth to him, he has every reason to doubt her.
After the death of the woman he calls Mama—the one who told him that “black was the colour of bad things, of dirty, unwanted things”—he moves through life alone. He runs a solo show, flirting with women but avoiding commitment. Friendship, to him, is a luxury no one has earned.
This is the story of Remilekun Balogun (RB), the protagonist in “Of Gods and Their Claytoys”, the debut novel of serial award-winning journalist and biographer, Olatunji Ololade.
The book’s opening is thick with dust and sweat, evoking vivid and emotional imagery that prepares the reader for a dark, intricate narrative—one whose conclusion may be fraught with complications, drawing them in with an irresistible pull to uncover more.
When RB comes of age, he chooses journalism as a profession. On the job, he discovers that the profession is not as honourable as he thinks. He finds out that senior colleagues—men he admired while growing up—are entangled in racketeering; their hands stained with filthy lucre, their pens unwilling to commit the truth to paper. He also learns that election season is financially advantageous for journalists because of the influx of money from political gladiators.
The author’s use of the imagery of money “flooding the economy like a burst dam” emphasizes the sudden and overwhelming flow of funds from politicians intent on influencing media coverage or public perception. This also raises ethical considerations about the influence of money on journalistic integrity.
Though everyone seems to be losing their heads, RB chooses to keep his. The opportunity to cement his image as the incorruptible arises when he witnesses an ethical breach at the state house where correspondents brawl over cash handouts from a governor.
The altercation turns fatal, a tragedy that is swiftly covered up. But RB refuses to let the truth be buried. He publishes a damning report, unleashing chaos as powerful forces move to silence him. Death threats collide with death threats.
He is transferred to Enugu as punishment for his audacity. Months into his stay, he stumbles upon a major story—one a powerful senator is desperate to bury. Determined to uncover the truth, he pushes forward, only to face the wrath of his boss in Lagos, who promptly summons him back. From that moment, his life spirals into further chaos, a relentless cycle of danger and escape, as if he were born to run—or destined for trouble, one day at a time.
“Of Gods and Their Claytoys” unfolds predominantly in Lagos, Ogun and Enugu and brims with remarkable characters. There’s Chiamaka, a fierce feminist who eats like a newly freed convict, drinks like a sailor, and loves with the hunger of a nymphomaniac. Mama, the only mother he has ever known, provides a grounding presence. Then there’s Gbotie, the closest thing RB has to a father figure—a journalist with an unshakable devotion to truth. Enitan and Alhaji, a couple pivotal to his journey, offer him a lifeline toward becoming someone in life. And finally, there’s Alhaja, Enitan’s mother, who boldly encourages her daughter to take a lover to make up for Alhaji’s shortcomings in the bedroom.
In this audacious, scathing, and riveting work, Ololade wears his social responsibility cap with pride, offering sharp insights into critical issues affecting Nigeria’s growth. Through robust discourse on leadership and policy, he provides a thought-provoking guide to the nation’s most pressing challenges.
The author’s rich poetic prose, combined with a smooth mix of simple, compound, and compound-complex sentences, breathes vibrant, electrifying energy into the storytelling.
Told in the first and third person, Ololade skillfully deploys allusion, imagery, and poetry to craft a novel that is both probing and powerful. Its crackling energy and unflinching depth of this keenly observed and compelling novel make it an unforgettable read. It will resonate long after the final page.
Olukorede S. Yishau is the author of ‘In The Name of Our Father’, ‘Vaults of Secrets’, ‘United Countries of America and Other Travel Tales’ and ‘After The End’.
