The following was sent out
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Nigerian-born comic book writer Ade Olumofin is commencing on a Kickstarter campaign for the November release of “Battle of the Orishas” — the second of a planned six part anthology delving into the worlds of revered characters from African myth and lore.
As the second chapter in a projected six-part comic book series, “Battle of the Orishas” picks up where the first installment, “Sango – How a Yoruba General Became a God-King”, left off. It continues the story of Sango, a Yoruba general turned God-king who fights powerful villains in his quest to protect the Oyo kingdom. With a passionate fanbase, Ade Olumofin has already been able to produce the second chapter “Battle of the Orishas” available in digital. The upcoming Kickstarter campaign will be to commission Volume 1 (Chapters 1, 2, and, 3 combined), raise funds to translate the comic book into Portuguese, and print the already produced chapter 2 of the six-part comic book series.
In the course of the overall story, Sango ultimately becomes the God of Thunder and Lightning. The basis for the character is a real 14th-century African king – Sango of the powerful W. African Kingdom of Oyo. Sango is now revered as a deity — a figure still worshiped in Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas, and other African communities around the world. By exploring Sango’s journey, the comic book series spotlights a major legend within African culture that is recognized in many parts of the globe but completely unfamiliar to most readers in the West.
Just as so many fan-favorite characters from the DC and Marvel universes derive from Asian, Greek and Nordic mythology, Africa has its own epics and mythologies that have captivated imaginations for generations. Ade recognized an opportunity to enrich and expand the superhero genre while inviting new voices and characters into the domain of storytelling. With “Sango – How a Yoruba General became a God-King” and “Battle of the Orishas,” he hopes to bring these stories to the forefront of popular culture.
An alumna of the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Ade decided to write his comic books after observing a lack of African heroes depicted in popular media. He plans to further a range of projects, focusing on under-told stories. Ade hopes the “Sango” series will be the springboard for more storytelling inspired by African heroes and myths.
“Sango – How a Yoruba General became a God-King” is currently available for purchase on Amazon in both English and Portuguese. The Kickstarter for “Battle of the Orishas” will launch on Thursday,
September 1, 2022. For more information about the “Sango” series and to view the video trailer for“Battle of the Orishas,” visit the Sango website.
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AVAILABLE TITLES
CHAPTER 1: SANGO – HOW A YORUBA GENERAL BECAME A GOD-KING
S Y N O P S I S
Genre: Fiction
Release date: September 1st, 2021
Sango – A General and younger brother to King Ajaka of the Oyo kingdom must do everything in his power to stop his Kingdom from falling into the hands of the leader of a rival
Kingdom – King Ozomu of the Buzumu Kingdom.
King Ajaka, Sango’s elder brother wants to sign a service agreement with King Ozomu that would make the Oyo Kingdom a protectorate of the Buzumu Kingdom but Sango is certain it will lead to the enslavement of the Oyo Kingdom.
He takes his concern to the Orishas (Gods) of his Kingdom who instruct him a choice to either assassinate his King and brother or watch his kingdom fall into the hands of a thief and madman.
Sango having no choice assassinates his brother and takes the throne. He then exacts revenge on King Ozomu by attacking him at his castle thus becoming King of the Oyo and Buzumu Kingdoms.
CHAPTER 2: BATTLE OF THE ORISHAS
S Y N O P S I S
Genre: Fiction
Release date: November 1st, 2022
Sango’s actions in chapter 1 – assassinating his King and exacting revenge on King Ozomu have repercussions that extend far beyond the walls of his Kingdom.
King Ozomu was Esu – the trickter Orisha’s (God) protector on Earth. Esu is vexed his ally on Earth has been murdered by Sango. So he goes into his trickster toolkit and decides to pit Sango against a powerful but evil Orisha – Abita .
Esu informs Abita that Sango has now co-opted the Oyo and Buzumu Kingdom and its citizens look to him as a demi-god. Furthermore, if Sango continues to conquer Kingdoms in Africa, it could lead to the people worshipping him and forgetting their rightful Gods.
Feeling threatened by Sango, Abita decides to launch an attack on the Oyo and Buzumu kingdoms with the intention of turning its citizens into Abita worshippers.
A great battle between Sango and Abita is now on the horizon as Sango once again defies a power much greater than his in his quest to protect the Oyo Kingdom and his newly co-opted Buzumu Kingdom.
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It is great to see more stories being told from diverse cultures
You can see the Kickstarter campaign here
Buy Volume 1 in English here and in Portuguese here
And check out the official website here