Ikenga (novel)

Ikenga is a 2020 middle grade fantasy novel by Nigerian American writer Nnedi Okorafor.[1][2][3] It is Okorafor's first book to feature male protagonist and was nominated for the 2021 Edgar Awards.[4] The novel follows Nnamdi, a boy who can access superhuman powers with the help of the Ikenga.[5]

Ikenga
AuthorNnedi Okorafor
Audio read byBen Onwukwe
Cover artistGreg Ruth
CountryNigeria
LanguageEnglish
GenreFantasy
Set inKaleria, Nigeria
Published2020
PublisherViking
Publication date
August 18, 2020
Pages240
ISBN978-0-593-11352-3

Background

Okorafor's stated that she started writing the novel's first draft in 2009 and based it on Nigerian mythology and the Igbo culture in reference to the Igbo god Ikenga.[5]

Plot Summary

Set in Kaleria, a fictional town in contemporary Nigeria, Nnamdi's father who was a chief of police known for capturing criminals was murdered by an unknown group which is rumored to be the Chief of Chiefs and 12-year-old son Nnamdi vowed to avenge him.

On the day his father's memorial celebration, his father spirit soon appears to him and give him a gift of an small figurine known as Ikenga which can transform Nnamdi into a huge black figure with superhuman strength and rage nicknamed The Man by Newspapers. With his newly found powers, he becomes a vigilante and takes out Kaleria's dangerous criminals including the Chiefs of Chiefs.

Reception

The book received positive reactions[6] with the New York Times praising Okorafor's characters.[7] School Library Journal in a starred review stated that "this wonderfully fresh superhero origin story offers a look into the shadowy, inexplicable powers that are sudden bestowed in a child".[8]

Kirkus Review noted it for being "a memorable middle grade murder mystery".[9]

Award and recognitions
  • Nominated for the 2021 Edgar Award for Best Juvenile[4]
  • Amazon Best Children Book of 2020[10]
  • NPR Best Book of the Year[1]

References
  1. NNEDI., OKORAFOR (2021). IKENGA. VIKING CHILDREN'S BOOKS. ISBN 978-0-593-11353-0. OCLC 1225190265.
  2. Okorafor, Nnedi (2020). Ikenga - Nnedi Okorafor | BookishFirst. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-593-11352-3.
  3. "Ikenga". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  4. "Edgar Award Winners and Nominees". www.theedgars.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  5. "A Boy Avenges His Murdered Father, With The Help Of A Magical 'Ikenga'". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  6. Njoku, Eboni. "Review of Ikenga". The Horn Book. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  7. "Review of Nnedi Okorafor's Ikenga". New York Times Book Review. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  8. Nnedi, Okorafor. "Ikenga". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  9. IKENGA | Kirkus Reviews.
  10. "Ages 9-12 @ Amazon.com". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
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