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In 1860, eleven-year-old Fákúnlé was kidnapped from Oshogbo, Nigeria, and taken to Dallas. Despite five years of enslavement, he maintained his Yoruba traditions. Trained by the elders before his abduction, he possessed wisdom beyond his years. As John Stewart bartered for his ownership, Fákúnlé focused on the Trinity River. Although worlds away from home, he was still connected to Òsun, the sacred guardian of his people and their rivers. This faith protected him through lynch mobs, KKK bands, and injustice. It enabled him to build a family and leave a legacy for future generations to reconnect with their Nigerian family and Yoruba roots.
When Nigerian priestess Kémi reconnects with her American cousin James Stewart IV, she is introduced to Pablo Balam, a gardener from the Yucatan peninsula. Pablo enlists Kémi’s help to strengthen the path of life guarded by Lord Jaguar, access sacred knowledge, and save millions. Pablo and Kémi must build a garden for each of the nine Maya Underworlds. But forces are working against them, and they must conquer evil to save humanity.
The first part of this book is an amazing story of resilience, perseverance, and strength. Fákúnlé’s refusal to accept his slave owner’s name epitomizes slaves’ fight for self-possession. His commitment to preserving and passing down his Yoruba traditions reflects their resistance to widespread efforts to strip them of their cultural identity. Donnelly effectively captures the power of oral histories, spiritual worship, and honoring ancestors. She presents the beauty of Yoruba and Maya belief systems and traditions, emphasizing the similarities and connections. She also poignantly compares and contrasts the destructive impact of Spanish imperialism on the Maya culture to that of English colonialism in Nigeria. Carefully weaving history, spirituality, mysticism, and suspense, Donnelly delivers a highly entertaining tale that is also heart-warming and inspirational