The story in this book is about is about Takon, an aspiring athlete, who is born to Nigerian parents in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Takon’s father, a research professor at OSU is a son of a prominent chief. He informs Takon that the council of elders in his hometown in Nigeria decided that Takon take his grandfather’s place at chief. Takon, who knows very little about his cultural background is faced with the dilemma of living here and achieving his dreams of playing professional basketball and going home to become a chief. Ndifon, Takon’s father dies in the U.S. and is taken home for burial. Takon goes to Nigeria for the first time to attend his father’s funeral. While in Nigeria, Takon finds out that he hardly fits in. Takon finds out that his girlfriend, Laurie, is pregnant. The fact that Laurie is a white American lady complicates the matter for Takon because he was not supposed to be involved in a relationship with someone from another ethnic background. His mother, Njijar, who returns home to Nigeria following the death of her husband helps to arrange for a wife for Takon, as part of the cultural requirement. Takon learns through the conflict to find identify who he is and who he wants to be. Tunde, Takon’s Nigerian friends, helps Takon to focus on the reality of his situation. Takon gradually learns to accept who he is, and decides how he wants to live his life despite the pressure to return home to become a chief. One of the decisions he makes is proposing to Laurie. His mother comes to visit after the birth of his son and Takon looks forward to realizing his dreams.
