Dele Sikuade

Books

Cover of Jesus of Bagada. The title is built as huge, weathered red-and-cream wooden letters standing in a night market, lit by a hanging bulb, with a blazing star above. An old bicycle with a leather satchel leans against the letters, and a black goat looks on beside market stalls and lanterns. The author's name runs across the dark band at the foot.
Coming soon

Jesus of Bagada

The Messiah is due in a small Nigerian church. The angel in charge hasn't been paying attention.

In a small church in the little-known town of Ideji, a letter arrives from headquarters in Wisconsin, and the news could not be better. A secret message in the scriptures has been deciphered: the Messiah will soon be reborn to a member of their church.

Step forward Michael and Esther Idowu, chosen parents of the new Son of God. Their fellow church members Ilorin, Ejoh and Okon are living proof that when three wise men cannot be found, Heaven will make do.

Overseeing the operation is Gabe, a carefree angel whose lack of faith got him exiled to Earth in the first place. His attitude is so lackadaisical that Lucifer ran riot for fourteen years, two months and three days before anyone noticed he’d escaped.

With a cast like this, the Nativity is never going to go to plan.

Form
Novel
Genre
African fiction, Satire, Comedy
Setting
Ideji, Nigeria
Themes
A Second Coming gone wrong; Faith and the lack of it; Angels, the Devil and church life