Premium Times reviews Dexter Loko's 2026 Afro-fantasy novel 'The Bako of Zereshé'
Premium Times reviews Dexter Loko's 2026 Afro-fantasy novel 'The Bako of Zereshé', published by GrandTouch Press. The Nigerian-Irish author's second novel follows Jeremy Fletcher, a BBC reporter who discovers Zereshé - Nigeria's secret 37th state - and joins locals Asha, Shani, and Chudi in battling political intrigue and magical threats while confronting his own cynicism and grief.
For Nigerians hungry for locally-inspired speculative fiction, this offers immersive world-building blending Nigerian settings with original mythology (Kitas, Grocupines) and tech, plus thematic depth exploring tradition vs modernity, faith vs doubt. Praised for earning accolades through its inventive landscapes and creatures, it's noted as weaker in character development with archetypal protagonists and occasional jarring pop-culture references.
If you loved Nnedi Okorafor's 'Akata Witch' or Tomi Adeyemi's 'Children of Blood and Bone', this is worth picking up for its Afrocentric imagination - though manage expectations on character arcs. Where does Zereshé's magic system resonate most with your own understanding of Nigerian folklore?