Follow Us on Google
By Henry Akubuiro
The lovely dramatic dialogue between Isoken Arude and Peculiar Adunni on stage could mislead the unwary at Ouida, Ikeja. Breathtaking and persuasive, it had the trappings of a live theatre, as two female characters discussed matters that touch the heart, enrapturing the audience.
It wasn’t until moments later when the author of The Bone River, walked onto the stage to read from the book, in a session moderated by Amyn Bawa-Allah, that the mystery of the cameo performance was unravelled.
On Thursday, November 27, 2025, BookBuzz hosted the public presentation of the debut novel, Bone River, written by the writer-dentist, Nkereuwem Albert, and published by Ouida Books.
Categorised as urban fantasy, the 391-page book melds strands of history, myths, and Efik culture in a fictional yarn.
Attended by friends of the author, youthful book enthusiasts, booksellers, readers and journalists, the exciting event also featured a book chat, where the author shed light on his writing: “In writing, I wanted to tell readers the things we did to survive pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial eras in Calabar: the good, the bad, and the ugly.”
In doing that, he was cautious of offending sensibilities and giving too much away from traditions kept secret over the years: “Knowing how much to say, and recognising the line between cultural preservation and exposing secrets that should remain sacred, was important to me.”
The event afforded the crowd of bibliophiles the opportunity to purchase the new offering and get the books autographs by the author. Among the highlights was the cutting of the cake to celebrate the book’s official unveiling. Lola Shoneyin of Ouida Books also presented a large frame to the author.
Bone River is a richly imaginative tale set in Calabar, weaving spiritual realism with emotional depth. It explores belonging, memory, grief, and ancestral ties through a deeply Nigerian lens, expanding the possibilities of African fantasy while staying rooted in cultural authenticity.
The plot unfurls two powerful characters – Heych Henshaw, a freelancer running away from a malevolent god but returns to a city reluctantly; and Afem Aba Ye Duop, heir to a throne built on bone ash and ancient power. The two find themselves on crossroads to which they have to search the soul and dark places.
The author told the audience during the chat that it took a painstaking process for him to write the book, which demanded a deep research on Calabar history and culture, as well as chatting with custodians of culture to get rare insights into the mystery surrounding the masquerade cult, which added to the spiritual fibre the fiction.
The author has been published in Omenana, Fusion Fragment, FIYAH Magazine, and Will This Be a Problem? He is the recipient of the Dream Foundry Prize for Emerging Writers. Bone River is available for purchase at Ouida Bookstore, Lagos, and via Ouida Books digital platforms.
