‘The forest of a thousand daemons can be noted as one of the best books to be written in this part of the world. The first novel to be written in Yoruba language is ‘Ogboju Ode Ninu Igbo Olodumare’. It was written by D.O Fagunwa in 1938, in plain Yoruba texts but for the English community, the translation was written in 1968 by acclaimed writer, Professor Wole Soyinka who gave the English title as ‘Forest of a Thousand Daemons’. The original book in Yoruba is divided into eight chapters with each having a title.
The first chapter discussed about the narrator who met an old man. The narrator had been thinking about his deceased parents and didn’t look to speak with anybody. He later exchanged courtesy with the old man and offered him a chair who then requested for writing materials because he felt his stories had to be documented. Akara-Ogun or Compound spells was once a mighty hunter. He told the stories of his father, a great hunter too who had four wives. They all bore him nine children altogether. He lost eight of the nine children when his father took side with another wife when they had misunderstanding. The beautiful Akara-Ogun’s mother bewitched them all. He then told is father’s visit to the revered Igbo Olodumare.
The next chapter discussed Akara-Ogun’s first sojourn in the Forest of a Thousand Daemons. His father’s experience was nothing to be compared with his in the forest. He sojourned into the dreadful forest at age 26 shortly after his father’s death who had taught him many things. He also had his possessions in power and money. The forest had all kinds of animals; it is also the abode of ghommids whom he had encountered with. Akara-Ogun explained in detail his battle with an evil spirit named Agbako. His head was long and large, had sixteen eyes and an evil sheath. The long fierce battle with the evil spirit landed him in a strange house. There, mysterious things happened then he met a beautiful woman named Helpmeet.
He was on another adventure when Helpmeet showed him a route to take which leads to a city. The inhabitants only mumbled on greetings and they had children lying dead in the market square with no attempt for them to be buried. He eventually met a woman named Iwapele who told him the city is called ‘Filth’. She informed him about the atrocities of her people that made God very angry with them. He forgave them afterwards but they became worse, living as if there is no God.
He therefore sent emissaries who were taken care of by Iwapele thereby saving her from God’s wrath; they were all blind and dumb. Akara-Ogun and Iwapele eventually became lovers. He was about asking her to be his wife when she passed away. This led to keeping a promise; entering a sacred room only when she’s dead. When he did enter the room, he found himself back in his own room at home. There he found all he had lost when he fought with Agbako; his gun, bag and money. The old man promised to continue the next episode of the story after eating and drinking.