Foreign Gods, Inc. tells the story of Ike, a New York–based Nigerian cab driver who sets out to steal the statue of an ancient war deity from his home village and sell it to a New York gallery.
Ike's plan is fueled by desperation. Despite a degree in economics from a major American college, his strong accent has barred him from the corporate world. Forced to eke out a living as a cab driver, he is unable to manage the emotional and material needs of a temperamental African American bride and a widowed mother demanding financial support. When he turns to gambling, his mounting losses compound his woes.
And so he travels back to Nigeria to steal the statue, where he has to deal with old friends, family, and a mounting conflict between those in the village who worship the deity and those who practice Christianity.
A meditation on the dreams, promises, and frustrations of the immigrant life in America; the nature and impact of religious conflicts; an examination of the ways in which modern culture creates or heightens infatuation with the "exotic," including the desire to own strange objects and hanker after ineffable illusions; and an exploration of the shifting nature of memory, Foreign Gods, Inc. is a brilliant work of fiction that illuminates our globally interconnected world like no other.
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“Ndibe writes with a folksy inclusiveness, inviting
characters in to stay a little longer than they’re needed, allowing for
colorful banter among villagers who have an altogether different sense of time…Into
this richly stocked brew of characters, Ndibe skilfully introduces some genuine
suspense in the final stretch, guiding readers through the nail-biting tension
of getting through customs Nigerian-style. As an author with a foot in Nigeria
and the US, he expertly brings both worlds to life before they collide.”
—
Shelf Awareness