Nigerian fiction writer, Ojay Aito, announces the launch of his debut novel ‘Night Of A Red Moon’ for the 18th of June, 2017. The novel, a historical thriller set in Ago-Iwoye, a little town on the edge of Ogun state, Nigeria, focuses on the socio-political drama that ensued between the indigenes and the students of the town’s premier tertiary institution – Olabisi Onabanjo University exactly twelve (12) years ago.
“It took God six days to create the world. It took me three years to create one night. One red moon-night,” says the author in a recent interview.
“Every day we breathe, we live our lives like normal people. Yes we are normal people, but with an experience that has lived with us for twelve years, and scars we will bear till our last breath,” says Wale, a victim of the massacre.
“It’s been twelve years now. Wow, twelve years. I miss Yemisi,” says another bereaved victim.
Night of A Red Moon was created from an epic straw of undocumented history, bringing to life the pain, pleasure and power of a people who although now dispersed across the world, remain bound by the experiences of a certain moon-night. Against a backdrop of cultural inheritance, it narrates how human relationships transform in the heat of a dire moment.
SYNOPSIS
Femi, a university student has been killed by overzealous men of the Oodua People’s Congress in the little town of Ago-Iwoye, sending a cloud of fear and uncertainty over it.
But it is the retaliatory violence which begins as a ‘peaceful protest’ that turns the town into a war zone, leaving the king dethroned, his palace in flames and innocent students at the mercy of enraged indigenes.
There is bloodshed, rape and more bloodshed that envelopes the night, even as four friends and their girls, attempt to see the night out, including pen-lovers, Tubor and Temmy, whose first meeting quickly becomes a desperate survival adventure.
They would soon discover that they had only been pawns in a big chess game, and that sadly, many of them, try as they may, would not make it to the light of the morning…
Night of a Red Moon is a gripping debut novel that would send your pulses racing, and put you in places you would rather safely imagine.
ABOUT OJAY AITO
Ojay Aito writes fast-paced thrillers which revolve around current religious, social, and economic issues in Nigeria and Africa. His popular unpublished comedy series ‘Life of a Barrack Boy’ is one work of fiction that has featured in more than a dozen literary blogs, acclaiming him as one of Nigeria’s most adaptable writers; with the atypical enthralling series ‘Two Lives And A Soul’ (a futuristic sci-fi) taking the notch one level higher. Ojay lives with his family in Lagos, Nigeria.
Connect on Social Media
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
#NOARM #NightOfARedMoon @Ojay_Aito
Visit www.ojayaito.com
Hi, Ojay. Nice one. How is ur family? Please come and finish the other Sci-fi novel involving Sally and Eli, Sam. Kudos to u
If Life of a barrack boy is anything to go by my guess is A night of a red moon will be super. Looking forward to read it.
Please Sally when are we getting Girls, Omoge Campus and Blackberry ….. Missing all that.
I was in 300 level then, was called from home to come and write a test MCB 301. We slept at mini campus over nite, I learnt to respect Osuite boys from that night cos the rescued lots of students stocked at PS with new fire fighter buses. I saw them filling car tanks at diesel office ñ driving cars without their keys, risking their lives for others when indegenes were busy killing people with matchets. we shed tears, I told my friend that night if we cud survived tonight, we would live. The next morning we saw death, I walked on broken bottles bare footed but it was strange cos I was not scratched no blood. When we got to PS junction along mini campus and ijesha road, we were being pursued on the express road that leads to Lagos. we were told to join any available cars, cars were makung u turn on roads. I saw multiple accidents ñ a guy wt crutches trying to run… Oru didn’t support Ago iwoye that day they lamented that Ago bite the fingers that fed them.
Wow. Wow. Dojaola! You have just said all that is in the novel. I’m so happy I covered all that in the novel… But guess what? There is more. Much more.
Massive thanks to everyone who has followed through till now.
Life of a Barrack Boy was just the beginning. I surely will finish Two Lives and a Soul, set to be released next year.
Night of a Red Moon will keep you asking questions; your hearts will race, and pray for the break of dawn… Which may never come.
Would love you all to be at the launch. June 18!
Thanks again guys!
I’m really looking forward to this….dancing in delight. Well done OJ.