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Forebearer’s Sight: Strangers Among Us
Ayodeji Ayinde’s Forebearer’s Sight: Strangers Among Us is an epic tale that fuses historical adventure with African spirituality and rich mythological storytelling. Set against the backdrop of a mysterious land discovered by European sailors, the novel explores the clash of civilizations, the spiritual power of indigenous people, and the destiny of a young stowaway named Frederick. The book seamlessly weaves two worlds, the invading seafarers and the mystical Yoruba kingdoms, into a tense, often brutal narrative about survival, identity, and power.
Right from the opening chapter, I was hooked. Ayinde’s prose has a cinematic quality that grabs your senses—there’s thunder crashing, wind howling, ships nearly capsizing, and a scrappy twelve-year-old fighting to prove he belongs. Frederick’s bravery during the storm won me over immediately. He’s smart, stubborn, and full of heart, and Ayinde gives him just enough edge to feel real. But what really impressed me was the layered emotional undercurrent, especially that moment when Afonso, the rough first mate, hugs Frederick and then awkwardly pulls away. It’s small, but it’s loaded.
Now, when the story shifts to the Yoruba kingdom, things get mystical and deep fast. The introduction of Ifaromi and the spiritual depth of the Ile-Ife culture is powerful. The world-building is detailed. The customs, the Orishas, and the rituals are immersive and rich, though at times, they can be a bit dense. Ayinde treats African spirituality with reverence and flair. The astral plane sequences and the role of the Hand of Olodumare gave the book a fresh, fantastical vibe that reminded me of why stories rooted in indigenous lore are so necessary.
One thing I didn’t expect was how intense the violence would be. The ambush in the forest was absolutely brutal. Heads rolling, throats slashed, and warriors emerging from tree trunks like ghosts—it’s savage, raw, and effective. Ayinde uses brutality to highlight the stakes of cultural collision. The native warriors aren’t just “villains,” they’re defenders of a sacred land, and that moral grayness is compelling. I also liked how even the supernatural moments, like Frederick’s body going limp from a mysterious touch, are handled with subtlety.
Forebearer’s Sight is a wild mix of swashbuckling adventure and spiritual epic. It’s not a light read, and it definitely asks you to pay attention, but if you’re into rich world-building, complex characters, and bold storytelling, it pays off. I’d recommend this book to readers who loved Things Fall Apart but wished it had more pirates, or fans of Black Panther who want something with more traditional African spiritual elements. It’s daring, emotionally charged, and wildly imaginative.
Pages: 221 | ASIN : B0BRBLHMYG
Pushed Him to Suicide
Ayodeji Ayinde Author Interview
Aberration: Arana’s Premonition follows a group of people combating a devastating virus. What was the inspiration for the setup to this exciting story?
The book was purely based on my imagination. The theme of the story just popped into my mind and i thought I could make a good book out of it.
The characters in this story are unique and well developed. What were some driving ideas behind their character development?
Allan’s character, for one, is inspired by the effects of lack of support, empathy, and sensitivity towards the failures of a person. As we can see, Allan’s failure to triumph at Duran’s Quest was met by spite and stigmatisation among his peers and tribe members which pushed him to suicide. Tensey is a character who also lost hope in life due the events that occurred in his life but he was able to pick himself up with the help of Evelyn and make himself a hero in this novel. Most of the characters are based on situations that could happen to anyone but in a different and more intriguing setting.
Much like in real life there is a virus devastating the world. How much of your story was informed by real life?
Its a coincidence I find surprising myself. I started writing this novel early last year and no one would have guessed that this is how 2020 would turn out. I couldn’t publish it earlier due to the rigours of my masters program and my career as a lawyer.
Author Links: Amazon | Twitter
![Aberration: Arana's Premonition by [Ayodeji Ayinde]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416r08dlPaL.jpg)
On a small continent, two tribes existed without the knowledge of one another in the eight century of their existence; the Acrians and the Dains. The Acrians were an intellectual tribe gifted with knowledge and excelled in peace. They lived west of the continent. The Dains were a religious group of people who worshiped their ancestors. They lived east of the continent on the mountains. Unknown to them, their religious practices were leading to the extinction of the Acrians through the manifestation of a virus created by their beliefs.
Tensey Damian, a famed hunter with a legendary status, lost everything to the virus. He teamed up with Evelyn Starling and her father, Gredon Starling, a seasoned scientist, to find a cure for the virus. Motivated by different ideals, love, duty, and, desires; they took on an impenetrable security to reach the root of their destruction to the despise of their people. They found a dying young man close to the mountain edge and discovered that he was the key to their salvation. The fear of an outbreak as a result of their actions turned the people they sought to save to their enemies. Alone in their quest for redemption, they battled several adversities to reach their goals. Tensey, Evelyn, and, Gredon discovered that the young man was from another tribe on the continent born from the inadequacies of their long-lost past.
Tensey, Evelyn, and Gredon soon realized that to achieve their goals they must become the villains their people think they are and there was a thin line between good and evil.
LITERARY TITAN 