The Gods Are Not to Blame by Ola Rotimi Summary
Overview of The Gods Are Not to Blame
Ola Rotimi's masterpiece reimagines Oedipus Rex within Yoruba culture, becoming Nigeria's essential literary text. This award-winning play brilliantly suggests ethnic distrust - not politics - fueled Nigeria's Civil War, while captivating audiences worldwide with its blend of traditional dance, music, and profound tragedy.
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Key takeaways
Destiny's Cruel Hand
The kingdom of Kutuje celebrates the birth of a prince, but joy quickly turns to horror. At the shrine of Ogun, blind soothsayer Baba Fakunle delivers a chilling prophecy: this child will grow up to kill his father and marry his mother. Desperate to prevent this catastrophe, King Adetusa and Queen Ojuola make the heartbreaking decision to sacrifice their son. The infant's feet are bound with cowries-leaving permanent scars-and he's handed to the king's messenger Gbonka with instructions to abandon him in the evil grove. Years pass. King Adetusa dies, and neighboring Ikolu attacks vulnerable Kutuje. A stranger named Odewale appears, rallying the demoralized people to victory. Grateful citizens crown this outsider their new king. For eleven years, Odewale rules with Queen Ojuola as his wife, together raising four children in what seems a perfect royal family. But paradise cannot last. A mysterious sickness spreads through Kutuje, killing indiscriminately. No one suspects this plague is merely the beginning of a tragedy set in motion decades earlier-when a desperate couple tried to outrun fate, and a compassionate messenger couldn't bring himself to kill an innocent child.
A Leader's Burden
Truth Revealed, Truth Denied
The Poison of Suspicion
Shadows of the Past
The Terrible Truth
When Fate and Choice Collide
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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