Nigerian Novel Reaches 10th on Amazon Bestseller List

Duke Terry Gbande’s novel, The God Weaver, has risen to 10th position on Amazon’s African Myths and Legends Best Sellers list.

This brings a renewed attention to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in creative writing.

The novel, launched at the XL Creative Hub in Abuja weeks ago, was adapted from a screenplay of the same title by filmmaker Tejiri Awanovwe.

Gbande, an AI prompt engineer, said he used the technology as a tool in writing the book, prompting discussions at its launch about authorship, originality and the role of human creativity in AI-assisted storytelling.

A live podcast hosted by JustBarny brought together writers and other professionals to examine the implications of using AI in creative work.

Poet and journalist, Dr Emman Usman Shehu, said AI relied on existing patterns, but argued that the writer’s choices remained central to the meaning of a creative work.

“You do not surrender your creativity to the machine,” Shehu said.

Lawyer and performance poet James Eneojile said the concern should be how writers use the technology rather than AI itself.

“The problem is not AI itself, but the use of AI,” Eneojile said.

Entrepreneur Ani Ugochukwu Bob also described AI as an aid to his thinking, while stressing the importance of professional judgement in making major decisions.

The panellists agreed that AI could assist the writing process but that authors remained responsible for the emotional depth and meaning of their stories.

The God Weaver follows Omolara, a self-made fashion designer estranged from her family’s mysterious heritage. Her circumstances change after a forgotten dress alters her best friend’s fortunes, forcing both women to confront the consequences of what they have received.

The story draws on Yoruba mythology surrounding Oshun, the goddess associated with rivers, love and abundance.

Its use of indigenous mythology has drawn comparisons with Children of Blood and Bone, the novel by Tomi Adeyemi, which also draws on Yoruba traditions.

The book’s movement from screenplay to novel also reflects how stories can be adapted across creative formats, including a potential return to the screen.

However, its position on Amazon’s category-specific bestseller list does not, by itself, establish its total sales or readership. Bestseller rankings can fluctuate and are tied to particular categories.