SEVHAGE is proud to announce the official release of Owuro Rising – Book One, a powerful debut novel by Michael Olugbenga Olobadola, marking a fresh and resonant voice in contemporary African speculative literature.
Blending supernatural lore, sharp social commentary, and gripping storytelling, Owuro Rising takes readers deep into a mystical and politically charged version of Nigeria, where hidden forces battle for power and truth while the fate of the beautifully rendered town of Owuro hangs in the balance.
At the centre of this story is Emmanuel, a teenager escaping a life of religious abuse, drawn into a world of secrets and ancient magic. Alongside characters such as Lola, a guilt-stricken siren, Kenny, a blossoming witch, the novel explores friendship, identity, and the courage to reclaim power in the face of personal and communal darkness. “The other voices one comes across are that of Demola Kilani, a wizard who had a relationship with Kenny’s mother; Sadiat, the Vice Chair of Owuro Local Government Council; Jerry, the boyfriend of Lola’s best friend turned nemesis; and Ty (Taiye), Kenny’s twin brother. Together, they bring diverse perspectives and tell the same story from different sides creating a more rounded narrative.”
“Owuro Rising is an imaginative narrative that draws richly on African cultural contexts and storytelling traditions, offering a portrait of youth at the crossroads of the seen and unseen worlds… Its fusion of the quotidian with the magical, the personal with the communal, speaks to enduring questions about identity, power, and belonging in contemporary African society,” says Soji Cole, a multiple award-winning author, scholar, and Assistant Professor at St Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title:Owuro Rising – Book One
Author: Michael [Olugbenga] Olobadola
ISBN: 978-978-697-010-3
Publisher: SEVHAGE (Nigeria and UK), Journal of African Literature, and African & Black Creatives for Development (ABC4D)
Length: Approx. 108 pages
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy / Speculative Fiction
Release Date: July 2025
Format: Print & Digital
Cover Design: Adakole Stephen Okopi
Layout by: Noirledge Publishing
Edited by: S. Su’eddie Vershima Agema & Chinaza James-Ibe
For bulk, bookshop, or institutional orders, please contact SEVHAGE directly.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Olugbenga Olobadola is a writer, creative visionary, and emerging voice in the Nigerian literary scene. Owuro Rising is his debut novel and the first in a planned series exploring the lives of young people entangled in a web of magic, identity, trauma and healing. A believer in the redemptive power of story, Michael’s writing is deeply rooted in his cultural heritage and a desire to elevate diverse African voices in speculative genres.
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