Vothuno

Through the enchanting storytelling prowess of Thaagbo, Vothuno presents a grim narration of history of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade in a deeply traditional African setting. The novel is an imaginative reconstruction of the tragic derailment of African society that was the slave trade. Vothuno turns to Badagri as a laboratory for the experimentation. Vothuno typifies the entrenched socio-economic traditions of the people of Badagri before the advent of the missionaries, who are the heralds of modernity and freedom from the bondage of slave trade in the ancient city. The arrival of the missionaries with the twin objectives of propagating Christianity and ending slave trade in an enclave rooted in traditional practices already precipitates inevitable collision path with Vothuno, the protagonist - who doubles as the Chief Priest and Chief Market Master of the slave trade business, with outcomes that changed Badagri forever.ABOUT THE AUTHORA. Babatunde Olaide-Mesewaku is a seasoned administrator, currently a Deputy Director of Administration in the Local Government Service of Lagos State, Nigeria with wealth of experience in Local Government Administration and Human Resources Management. He has worked in many Local Governments in Lagos State in different capacity. He is at the moment the Council Manager, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State. For his resourcefulness, managerial savvy and exemplary leadership quality he was awarded certificate of excellence as the Most Outstanding Council Manager in Lagos State in 2007 and 2011 respectively by the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria. The author graduated from University of Ibadan in 1989 with Bachelor of Arts (combined) Honours degree in English/Theatre Arts. He has just completed Edexcel Level 5 BTEC HND programme in Travel and Tourism Management, London. He holds two Master Degrees in Public Administration and Legal Studies, all acquired at the Lagos State University, Ojo in 1995 and 2009 respectively. He is at the moment a student of University of Leicester, London pursuing another Master Degree programme in Museum Studies. He is an artist, a cultural tourism exponent and promoter, a poet, and a writer. He spearheads the organisation of the annual 'Badagry Diaspora Festival' being organised by African Renaissance Foundation (an NGO he co-founded) and De Roots Renaissance. Mr. Mesewaku has written and published two books on Badagry historiography and culture. These are: Badagry: The Cultural Heritage (1999) and Badagry District 1863 - 1999 (2001). He is the publisher of De Roots Renaissance Newsletter, a bi-monthly publication dedicated to Tourism, Culture, and the Arts. He is married and blessed with children.