Oyegoke’s ‘Era of Diamonds’ tells African story sweetly in comic genre, by Michael Olatunbosun |

This book for today helps us to resuscitate the comic genre, reminding us that arts and literature can still be colourful, entertaining and didactic. So the book is the first in the Hunter Diamond graphic novel series. It is titled Era of Diamonds published in 2025 by Head of Days Ltd. This comic series is published in both English and Yoruba. The Yoruba version is titled Àkókò Òșó and authored by Oyin Oyegoke, a storyteller, writer, artist and entrepreneur. 

The author tells the tales of those early days in Africa when diamonds were very much sought-after and these diamonds had special powers to bind themselves to whoever finds them. Then he ties the beginning of the work to Ayedara town where we meet the family of Basorun Bandele Sasa, a diamond trader. He visits the palace of the king to deliver a sack of diamonds and heads home to his wife and children. And immediately we are ushered into the Yoruba cosmology where rare birds are appreciated and made companions at home, as Oloye Bandele brings from his travels a bird called Ìdì-Aláwo. The bird is said to have its own mind, and hard to tame, compared to others. Later in the book, we are treated to the mysterious power of the bird in how it is able to locate Akin, in time of trouble.

As the family sets down to eat dinner, the conversation shifts to hunting as Bandele and his son Akin switch to a variety of languages, especially Kiswahili and Amharic, two languages spoken in East Africa. Essentially the work advocates multilingualism as it enables the speaker of many languages to connect with the world.

And the hunting expedition led by Basorun, Akin and Toogun sets out in the morning, the author fuses into the story a message on wildlife conservation and protection. 

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Indeed, this 10-chapter comic, written for all ages, but specifically targeted at young people, celebrates and elevates Yoruba culture and history. It showcases tradition, values and collective ethos of the people for both entertainment and appreciation of the reader. So we learn about hunting, rare animals and their peculiar features, and get up-close with traditional institutions, especially the bond (of trust and friendship) between these institutions and the people. This is particularly seen in the meeting between the king, Oba Aderemi VIII, the Olùyèdárà of Ayèdárà and Basorun Bandele of Sasa. Both are friends from childhood, but their conversation demonstrates deep mutual understanding and respect for each other. The conversation also reveals the fact that those in power must know that they hold the power for the people. Bandele tells the king that he has given up his treasure of diamonds because he wants to connect more with the people (Pp74, 75) and build trust. For him, “power is of no use if it will not benefit people.” A more urgent assignment therefore, for Bandele, is to conquer the darkness rising in the world rather than chasing wealth.

In this book, Akin goes to the farm with his father’s servants and other farmers. He is prevented from joining in the harvest of yam but makes an accidental friendship with a boy whose first intention is to hurt Akin. The boy challenges for a fight and lures Akin far away from the others on the farm. They arrive at a location but are chased by a lion, only to escape by jumping into a waterfall, and into safety – only by the whiskers. Amadi is the name of the boy who lives off farm labour to fend for himself. Akin and Amadi are now friends. But as they try to navigate their way out of the forest, they run into a gang led by Benbe. It is a gang of bad men with the intention of raiding Morina town for diamonds. 

Akin and Amadi risk their lives as they confront the gang men and rescue the princess of Morina town. Akin is the super hero as he defeats Benbe and his men. But before they are overwhelmed, help arrives from Morina. They return home, but it is at this point that we learn that Amadi is an orphan. 

Back in Ayedara, the king and his council resolve to restart the advanced diamond training programme for the youth. And Akínfìjàgbàmílà of Sasa is one of the youths partaking in the festival. But what surprises him is that after his return home from the forest, his father announces that he will be making his last travel before settling down with his family. Before setting out, Basorun Bandele hands a very precious thing to Akin. But what is this thing, and how will Basorun travel far from home for six months without his precious possession? These and many questions are answered by the author, Oyin Oyegoke in this series set in the peak of Yoruba kingdoms. 

The 260-page book by Oyin Oyegoke is not only about the tales of the ancients and precious magical diamonds. 

It also presents great nuggets of culture and mores of the Yoruba people. Thus, sandwiched between all chapters of the book are the author’s celebration of the unique African cultures, practices, collective cultural values and social ethos, arts and artifacts of the Yoruba people across generations. These elements combine potently to project the themes and motifs of the story like courage and valour, hard work and disciplined personal and communal principles as well as strong friendships which lead to peaceful coexistence and collective progress. 

. Olatunbosun can be reached via 08023517565 (SMS and WhatsApp only) and [email protected].

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