Publisher's Synopsis
What wisdom and knowledge have we lost in lieu of our modernized thinking about death and the supernatural? After the sudden and tragic death of his mother when he was a student, S.T. Ola. Akande embarked on a lifelong journey to better grasp the nature of mortality, particularly in light of the miraculous and mysterious circumstances swirling around death that have been reported in numerous firsthand accounts. Miracles, Mysteries, Death and Dying and Other Supernatural Events shares a series of uncommon, weird, but true stories from Nigeria about these phenomena and what it suggests about the supernatural forces at work in life and in death. Reflective and thought-provoking, this illuminating collection recounts true stories of Nigerian witches, magical charms, premonitions, extra-terrestrial occurrences, post-death experiences, and more. In contemporary Nigerian society, there are numerous events of this nature that cannot be explained by clinical, scientific, or empirical searchlights. Nigerians relegate these to the realm of mysteries and miracles. Nigerian witches, for example, are believed to have demonic powers and can permeate churches, homes, markets, and even political chambers. Akande shares tales to illustrate this, such as the story of a student's near-fatal encounter with a young witch-girl who had transformed herself to the exact image of his mother. From there, the book explores the power and prevalence of African charms and the presence of miracles. Stories include the incident of a woman turning herself into a cat; a man who transformed himself into a deer; individuals attacked in dreams; and many more. Other phenomena cited include assaults by the natural world in the form of bees or snakes; curious happenings during sexual relations; and a drowning of boat passengers by the river god. Experiences with extra-terrestrials are also covered, such as those of a retired professor who received a warning from a man who came to his bedroom; another warning from his shadow; and a demand from an invisible voice. Together the stories work to make the reader reflect on death and dying in an entirely new and perhaps deeply beneficial light. Miracles, Mysteries, Death and Dying and Other Supernatural Events offers invaluable insight for those grieving the loss of a loved one or for anyone trying to gain greater clarity on the mystifying circle of life.
