The Book of Ọ́lá

Chapter one of The Book of Ọ́lá shown on a phone screen
Literary Fiction · Debut Novel

“Every fortress was once a wounded boy, silent walls raised against heartbreak.”

A deeply intimate story about the making of a man, and the hard childhood rules shaping his heart.

Out on 31 January 2027.

When we entrust our struggles, our secrets to someone else, we cast a light on our darkness. People understand us better, we feel safer and we belong.

I wrote this book for men, to help them see their pain, and for women, to see these men beyond the roles they’re meant to play.

The only way to remedy judgement and loneliness is to accept that, as humans, we are born to connect, to need and to hold each other.

Nine Questions At The Heart Of This Story

Ogún
Which walls have you built, and which have you inherited?
Àìlera
How much were you hurt for being weak?
Ìgboyà
How do you define courage?
Ìfẹ́ láìsí àdéhùn
Have you ever been loved unconditionally?
Ìmọ̀lára
What do you feel when a woman is too emotional?
Ìrúbọ
What do you fear you need to sacrifice to keep someone happy?
Òmìnira / Ìyapa
How do you differentiate between freedom and aloofness?
Ìjọpọ̀
What makes you feel that you belong?
Àlá
What dreams have you given up on?
Who it is for

The Book of Ọ́lá is for you if…

  • You have ever wanted to know what goes on inside a man who says very little.
  • You are a man who rarely finds his inner world reflected in stories.
  • You know what it is to love someone from a different world.
  • You like to immerse yourself in poetic stories about childhood, family, culture and love.
  • You would rather feel a story than read a self-help book.
The Book of Ọ́lá — a novel by Carole C. Favre
Where the story is set

10 Surprising Things You Did Not Know About Nigeria and the Yorùbá

Map of Africa with Yorùbáland marked across Nigeria, Benin and Togo
  • 01Nigeria is Earth’s 6th most populous nation, home to nearly 230 million people.
  • 02One in every six Africans is Nigerian.
  • 03By 2050, Nigeria’s population will surpass that of the US by nearly twenty million.
  • 04The Yorùbá hold the record for the highest recorded twinning rate in the world (45 sets in every 1,000 births).
  • 05London has the largest Nigerian population outside Nigeria, followed by Houston, Texas.
  • 06The richest man in Africa is Nigerian. Aliko Dangote built his fortune on cement, sugar, and oil. By 2029, he’ll own the world’s largest refinery.
  • 07With 2,500 films per year (≈ 50 per week), Nollywood ranks as the world’s second largest film production industry, ahead of Hollywood.
  • 08Sade’s father is Yorùbá. Her full given name, Fọláṣadé, translates “honour confers a crown”.
  • 09Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a Yorùbá princess, became the goddaughter of Queen Victoria.
  • 10The slave trade carried Yorùbá religion across the Atlantic, giving rise to Santería in Cuba, Candomblé in Brazil, and Haitian Vodou.
Early readers

“If you were fortunate enough to have lived in Ọ́lá’s era, this read will resonate profoundly. I recognised his view of the world as my own and saw flashbacks of the spirit of my youth in between the pages. Carole crystallises the interwoven lives of the Nigerian diaspora passionately and authentically.”

Yomi · Nigeria

“Reading Carole’s book is like stepping into another life — the descriptions are so vivid! I could feel all the emotions of the main character and see the world through his eyes too, even though — on the surface — he has nothing in common with me.”

Claudine · Quebec

“It was such fun to read this book! I love the writing style because it is so unusual. My daughter offered it to my son-in-law, who is Yorùbá Nigerian and he loved it. It also helped her connect with his culture in a very unique way. Highly recommended reading!!!”

Val · UK
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