One Man, One Matchet

In nineteenth-century Nigeria, a new generation of educated locals seeks to take back power, but a deadly disease threatens their cocoa crop and village. Two young men with different ideas on how to prevent the catastrophe must decide who to trust and who can save them.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In a rural village in nineteenth-century Nigeria, British colonial rule is finally starting to loosen its grip. As a new generation of educated locals seize their chance to take back power, a deadly disease threatens to wipe out their invaluable cocoa crop and end their village for good.

In the Yoruba land of west Nigeria, the village of Ipaja faces a crisis – one of identity, power, and famine. At the center are two young men with very different ideas on how to prevent the oncoming catastrophe. Although they both claim to have the village's best intentions at heart, neither can deny the power they stand to gain if the other one fails.

As tensions rise, the village must decide who they can trust and who will be able to save them from a deadly disaster.

The first young man, Olaniyi, is a traditionalist who believes in the power of the gods and the importance of preserving the village's culture and traditions. He has a plan to use traditional medicine and rituals to protect the cocoa crop from the disease, but he is opposed by the village's chief, who believes that modern science is the only way to save the village.

The second young man, Akin, is a modernist who believes in the power of technology and innovation to solve the village's problems. He has a plan to use modern farming techniques and irrigation systems to increase the yield of the cocoa crop and make the village more prosperous. However, he is opposed by the village's elders, who believe that modern technology is a threat to their way of life and will lead to the loss of their culture.

As the crisis deepens, the village is divided into two factions – the traditionalists and the modernists. Each faction has its own set of beliefs and values, and they are unwilling to compromise with each other. The tension between the two factions is palpable, and it is only a matter of time before the crisis escalates into violence.

One day, a group of travelers arrives in the village. They are a group of scientists who have come to study the disease and find a solution. The travelers are led by Dr. Sarah, a renowned scientist who has been working on the disease for years. Dr. Sarah is impressed by the village's unique culture and traditions, and she believes that they can play a vital role in finding a solution to the disease.

Dr. Sarah offers to work with the village to develop a new crop that is resistant to the disease. She explains that the disease is caused by a fungus that is spread by insects, and that by developing a new crop that is resistant to the fungus, the village can protect its cocoa crop and prevent the disease from spreading.

The traditionalists are skeptical of Dr. Sarah's plan, but they are willing to give it a try. They believe that the gods will protect the village, and that they should not rely on modern technology. However, the modernists are excited by the idea of a new crop that will increase their yield and make the village more prosperous.

As the project progresses, the traditionalists and the modernists begin to work together. They learn from each other's perspectives and develop a new crop that is resistant to the disease. The new crop is called "Ipaja Gold," and it is a success. The village's cocoa crop is protected, and the disease is prevented from spreading.

However, the success of Ipaja Gold has a negative impact on the village's economy. The price of cocoa has dropped, and the village's farmers are struggling to make ends meet. The modernists argue that the village should focus on developing new industries and technologies to increase its prosperity, while the traditionalists argue that the village should focus on preserving its culture and traditions.

The tension between the two factions continues to grow, and it is only a matter of time before the crisis escalates into violence. One day, a group of young men from the modernist faction attacks the village's chief, accusing him of being a traitor and of selling out the village's interests. The chief is killed, and the village is thrown into chaos.

The travelers are forced to leave the village, and the crisis continues to escalate. The village's elders are unable to control the situation, and the village is on the brink of collapse.

However, a new generation of young men and women emerges in the village. They are determined to find a solution to the crisis and to bring the village back to prosperity. They work together to develop new industries and technologies, and they are successful. The village's cocoa crop is once again protected, and the village's economy is booming.

In the end, the crisis in Ipaja teaches the village a valuable lesson about the importance of unity and cooperation. It shows that even in the face of adversity, it is possible to overcome challenges and achieve success. The village's new generation of leaders is committed to preserving the village's culture and traditions while also developing new industries and technologies to ensure its prosperity.

In conclusion, the crisis in Ipaja is a powerful story of identity, power, and famine. It shows that even in the face of adversity, it is possible to overcome challenges and achieve success. The village's new generation of leaders is committed to preserving the village's culture and traditions while also developing new industries and technologies to ensure its prosperity.

Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781035902125