Overview

Set in a time and place unburdened by the devastation of colonialism, Olawu is a refreshing tale about a brave girl with a bold dream. Olawu is the eldest daughter of Kanakam's only physician. Her strong will and compassionate nature are a constant source of conflict in her village. In Kanakam there are many rules for girls, and those who break them are often broken. Despite Kanakam's restrictions against girls reading, writing, or working a trade, her father teaches her in secret. Inspired by his skill and shielded by his status, Olawu learns eagerly at his side, hoping to one day follow in his footsteps. Olawu's world is upended when the Dikebe tribe takes over Kanakam. The Dikebe tribe has conquered dozens of villages west of the river as they wage a violent war against the Oloko tribe to the east. When tragedy strikes, Olawu and her family are left vulnerable to the harsh realities of Kanakam, including the forced marriage ritual known as the Choosing. As the eldest daughter, Olawu's duty is to protect her family. But her father instilled in her a greater purpose, and the Choosing is no better than slavery. Driven to desperation, she seeks help from Dikembe, the son of the tribal warlord who has taken over her village. She hopes he will repay her father's past kindness and shield her family, but hope is a fragile thing, and time is running out. Told in three parts, Olawu is an inspiring coming of age story, an immersive introduction to 19th century East Africa, and a Quarter Finalist for the 2023 BookLife Prize for Fiction.

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Reviews

"""A page turner that will leave readers both inspired by Olawu and rooting for her success.""""Olawu is a beautifully constructed character...""""Leigh's novel is fine-tuned, with a captivating storyline and impeccable pacing.""""Leigh crafts a vivid pre-colonial Africa in this novel that will spellbind readers.""- The BookLife Prize ""It's action-filled, with brilliant scene-setting and descriptions of the culture and the people in it, and the dialogue is good, the interplay between the characters wonderful.""- Reedsy ""The author is a great character creator, able to flesh out the impact of words and actions with great ability. The story is active throughout and intellectually stimulating too.""- Goodreads Reviewer ""This character embraces what makes womanhood so beautiful, and what makes humanity worth fighting for.""- Booklounge Reviewer"

"From The BookLife Prize Critic Report: ""Leigh's novel is fine-tuned, with a captivating storyline and impeccable pacing. As Olawu, the novel's namesake, aims to follow in her father's footsteps, she faces many trials and unexpected twists of fate that will keep readers engaged. Leigh's writing is clear and picturesque, making for a very cinematic novel. The use of words and phrases in Zulu, Kiswahili, and Xhosa aid readers' immersion into the story's pre-colonial East African setting. While there are many novels centered on colonial and postcolonial Africa, Leigh crafts a vivid pre-colonial Africa in this novel that will spellbind readers. Olawu's journey is incredibly unique, as she goes from wanting to be a doctor to realizing the seemingly impossible. Olawu is a beautifully constructed character... supporting characters are multi-dimensional, resulting in appropriately complex relationships."""

Author Information

"P. J. Leigh is a lifelong lover of stories and enjoys all kinds, from mystery to fantasy. Her biggest motivations for writing are the two beautiful girls she has at home, which is why her writing showcases female characters of color. Awards include 6th place in the Writer's Digest Short Story Competition for ""The Shifter,"" 1st place in the WCPL Short Story Contest for ""Take Me Away,"" and 1st place in the Prose monthly challenge for ""The Earth Sighed Seven Times.""If she's not plotting and scheming, she's typically reading, crying over K-dramas, or, inevitably, doing laundry. Learn more about her projects on her website or connect with her on social media."

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