Moses Ose Utomi

Set in a secondary world reminiscent of Saharan Africa, Moses Ose Utomi's debut novella, The Lies of the Ajungo, follows one boy’s epic quest to bring water back to his city and save his mother’s life. They say there is no water in the City of Lies. They say there are no heroes in the City of Lies. They say there are no friends beyond the City of Lies. But would you believe what they say in the City of Lies? In the City of Lies, they cut out your tongue when you turn thirteen, to appease the terrifying Ajungo Empire and make sure it continues sending water. Tutu will be thirteen in three days, but his parched mother won’t last that long. So Tutu goes to his oba and makes a deal: she provides water for his mother, and in exchange he will travel out into the desert and bring back water for the city. Thus begins Tutu’s quest for the salvation of his mother, his city, and himself. The Lies of the Ajungo opens the curtains on a tremendous world, and begins the epic fable of the Forever Desert. With every word, Moses Ose Utomi weaves magic.

The Lies of the Ajungo

Lindsay

Tears are precious, his mama always said. Don’t waste them on your enemies. Save them for your friends.

It had been so long since he’d had the freedom to cry. That’s what crying was— freedom. You could only cry when there were no more urgent responsibilities. Only when there was no one watching you who depended on your strength. Only when the people around you wouldn’t take advantage of your tears.

The power came from translating understanding into belief, from standing so firmly in one’s knowledge of the world that the knowledge itself became an armor— and a weapon.

They knew that all of history was a lie told to instill fear in those whose fearlessness could have rewritten it.

prawnie

“A man will give ya work and name it a gift.” Lami barked a laugh.

“Ya still young, Tutu. When ya reach our age, understanding comes—evil in one place is evil in every place. We will help this man.”

The power came from translating understanding into belief, from standing so firmly in one’s knowledge of the world that the knowledge itself became an armor—and a weapon.

The Lies of the Ajungo quotes

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