In his own country, Amos Tutuola (1920 - 1997) did not receive recognition for a long time, but his books, translated into more than 15 languages, influenced not only literature, but also dance, visual art and music. Yoruba folklore, irony plus language play - and from the pen of the modern storyteller Tutuola comes amazing, “catchy” texts. This is his very first story - “Journey to the City of the Dead.”

The plot of the story is typical of a fairy tale or myth: the hero finds himself in the other world, meets magical creatures there and, having overcome many obstacles, returns home safely. If you read it closely, you understand that this is more likely the result of the author’s personal experience expressed in literary form, rather than artistic fiction. But aren’t we, like the Palm Drunkener, looking for happiness and aren’t ready to go for it “to the ends of the earth or beyond”?