Dragons and Ogun and Things That Go Bump: Unique African Fantasy

For #ReadingAfrica 2025, we have asked a few writers to write guest posts, recommending books from different genres. Feel free to join us over on social media for the weeklong celebration of African writing in all its forms.

By Alex J. Coyne

The fantasy genre is well-known for introducing elements such as magic(k), or its own rules about mythological creatures like centaurs, wizards, and egregores. However, even though Lord of the Rings might have taken at least some inspiration from the author’s birth in Bloemfontein, there are many fantasy stories that are entirely set in Africa – and all of them take full advantage of their unique African landscape rather than borrowing “other” tropes that exist within international fantasy like dragons, fairies, elves, and magical swords or talking mirrors.

Africa has its own myths, legends, magic(k)s, and Gods to write about – though they might not have had as many mainstream media or pop culture appearances as Odin or Osiris yet. As you might notice from recent book releases, this is steadily changing. African Gods and fantasy stories are beginning to rise in recognition and familiarity.

Novels like Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor or The Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi have brought unique African stories and myths into the spotlight.

Fantasy allows for vibrant imagination and suspension of disbelief; fantasy tales bring to life dragons, elves, magic(k), and things you can’t imagine in a real-world landscape. However, effective fantasy stories also boil down to being about the human experience – emotion, struggle, triumph, love, loss, and of course, heroes and heroines.

Here’s our take on the most compelling fantasy novels set in Africa.

Who Fears Death (Nnedi Okorafor)

Title: Who Fears Death

Author: Nnedi Okorafor

Publisher: HarperCollins

Buy here.

Who Fears Death was published in 2010, and functions as a genre-crossing prequel to the novel She Who Knows. The international edition was republished in 2018 via HarperCollins.

She Who Knows follows the story of Najeeba (Onyesonwu’s mother within Who Fears Death) who follows a ritualistic, though typically male-driven Call to the salt harvest. Najeeba returns in One Way Witch: where Najeeba finally learns more about her own mystical powers.

Unusually for any series, the novels can each be read on their own and make perfect sense. There’s no point in the story where the reader feels “lost” or like they’ve missed an important element.

Nnedi Okorafor is frequently recommended as an African author, and is mentioned within several genres: fantasy just happens to be one of the ways one could describe the novel Who Fears Death.

Who Fears Death follows the main character Onyesonwu – whose name is a reference, translated, to the title of the book.

Onyesonwu discovers that she has magical abilities – and that there are others, shamans, with whom her powers identify. This starts a journey of self-discovery and a quest to find the root of the truth behind her name.

She can communicate with other realms; though is this a calling or a curse?

Fantasy doesn’t take away from the fact that Who Fears Death is also about issues women around the world experience – including, harshly, being a survivor of sexual or physical abuse.

Imagine if Stephen King’s novel The Long Walk had started with a singular character – and if it had instead been set in an African desert. While the book isn’t a lengthy epic, it doesn’t have to be in order to tell the story well.

If you’re thinking that the story would adapt well to the screen, others have agreed ahead of time: Who Fears Death has been optioned for an HBO series with George R.R. Martin (yes, from Game of Thrones) as its potential executive producer.

Daughters of Nri (Reni K. Amayo)

Title: Daughters of Nri

Author: Reni K. Amayo

Publisher: Onwe Press

Buy here.

Daughters of Nri by Reni K. Amayo is part of the larger series The Return of the Earth Mother. If you’re looking to follow this series through, then this is the book that you should begin with.

The story is heavily rooted in mythology: a war has forced the Old Gods away from the Earth and into another realm.

The eponymous “Daughters of Nri” are the story’s main characters, Naala and Sinai. While they are twins, each of them grew up under different circumstances – and they were first unaware of the other’s existence.

The daughters are protected and hidden from the ones in power: a warlord and dictator named Eze Ochirichiri and his entourage of loyal followers; Eze is the one responsible for starting the war that drove the Old Gods away in the first place.

Beyond its fantasy genre, Daughters of Nri is a deeper exploration of the stories connected to African soil and heritage. The book isn’t just talking about the Old Gods, but also relating to modern issues like dictatorial rule or the difficulty of daily human life.

Traditional Igbo culture is also blended into the setting – making  Daughters of Nri one of the best uniquely African fantasy novels you might ever journey your mind through.

The Children of Blood and Bone (Tomi Adeyemi)

Title: The Children of Blood and Bone

Author: Tomi Adeyemi

Publisher: Henry Holt & Company [Pan Macmillan]

Buy here.

The Children of Blood and Bone is a story of prophesy and magic – things that have been blended into various African mythologies for generations, though elements that have only recently made their way into popular or mainstream African-set fiction.

Author Adeyemi takes ample inspiration from West African mythologies, and the story takes place in the fictional kingdom Orïsha – also, you might have by now guessed, heavily inspired by an African setting.

Protagonists Zelie, her brother Tzain, and deserter princess Amari must set out on a quest (of course!) to restore the balance after magic has disappeared from Orïsha.

The Children of Blood and Bone is the story of an exciting battle: characters are up against their own personal shortcomings, but also fighting the prince of Orïsha in a world where everything is not as it appears.

An upcoming 2027 film adapts the story to the screen – and the book continues into a trilogy that you’ll want to read once you’ve reached the last page.

David Mogo, Godhunter (Sudi Davies Okungbongwa)

Title: David Mogo, Godhunter

Author: Sudi Davies Okungbongwa

Publisher: Abaddon Books [Rebellion Publishing]

Buy here.

David Mogo, Godhunter is set in Lagos, Nigeria after a future war that drops the veil between worlds and brings the gods down to Earth. The title refers to David Mogo, a man born as mixture of god and human, who freelances as a Godhunter and brings down the gods for a price.

The author writes visually enough that one could easily see this adapted into a graphic novel or film, though doesn’t have to be adapted into anything to make its impact.

Amazingly, this is a strong and exciting debut novel that makes you want to dig for more by the author – who also happens to be a veteran short story writer as many readers might be very glad to know.

David Mogo, Godhunter re-imagines modern Lagos with its bustling markets and busy streets, but adds magic and wizard gangsters (as the book describes it) like Lukmon Ajala.

Nothing is the way it seems, and magic(k) is a part of daily life within the story much like it might form part of regular belief for people living in the real-life equivalent.

Mogo’s supernatural abilities make him the perfect bounty hunter – but only for the right price.

When the powerful and rich Ajala wants two of the city’s most powerful gods captured, he calls on Mogo to do the job.

Capturing gods isn’t an easy task, even for David Mogo. The story benefits especially from the fact that Mogo is somewhat of an antihero who has seen more of his share of things.

The story feels like following through the Max Payne or Serious Sam video game series for its plot; you’re following a rogue bounty hunter on a trail through their (under)world, and you’re going to enjoy every second of it.

If you enjoy graphic novels and battle-stories, then David Mogo, Godhunter should be next on your reading list. You’ll likely finish the book practically begging for a return of the hard-boiled Godhunter.