TASTE OF THE WEST

About the Book

In the heartland of Africa, adherence to the prevailing cultural values and the African traditional religion are treasured. A male child is born after nine years of fruitless marriage to a polygamous traditionalist who comes into conflict with the nascent and attractive Christian religious faith. The child grows up after a kidnap and a failed attempt at selling him into slavery. A conflict of religion, tradition, and social status build up after the child decides to become a priest and adopt the culture of the oyibo (white) man. A taste of the West by this rustic but bold young Christian boy from a predominantly pagan background works toward mutual amalgamation of the traditional beliefs and the technological culture of the oyibo man. Through the agency of this young village boy who was, at one time, transported for scores of miles inside a jute bag at the carriage of a bicycle, tremendous and almost unimaginable positive changes begin to occur in the backwoods of Umunta.

About the Author

Oliver Akamnonu is a physician, with specialization in anesthesiology. An author and poet, Dr. Akamnonu had his early education at St. Brigid’s School Enugu, Nigeria, and Government Secondary School Afikpo, where he was the School Captain . He finished his education at the University of Ibadan medical and postgraduate schools. A former state chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, former member of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria MDCN, member of the Board of Federal Medical Center Owerri, recipient of the Distinguished Medical Practitioner (DMP 2005) award, chairman of the Akamnonu Foundation for the Poor, he became an author after he immigrated to the United States and has over eighteen published books to his credit. Dr. Akamnonu’s published books include Suppers of Many Dishes Part I; Suppers of Many Dishes Part II; The Gods Have Not Yet Spoken; Taste of the West; Nation of Dead Patriots; Bature; The Honorable; Coming Late to America; Earth’s Man of Color: Genes, Agenda, or Jeans; Soldier Ants of War; The Trial of Monogamy; the award-winning book Rap to Mars; A Spot to Perch; Comedy of Naked Vampires; Konganoga: Mauling the Polity; and the widely read book Arranged Marriage and the Vanishing Roots. He is also the author of several short stories and literary contributions in several blogs and newspapers. A Nigerian-born citizen of the United States, Dr. Akamnonu lives in Massachusetts, USA, with his wife, Dr. Chika Agnes Akamnonu; and they have four children.