Northampton Author's search for his family's royal Lagos roots inspires debut historical novel
‘When The Lagoon Decides’ launches at Royal and Derngate this October in a celebration of African and British heritage.
A Northampton author who spent years tracing his family's ancestry back to the royal court of eighteenth-century Lagos has turned that remarkable discovery into his debut historical novel.
Olaseni Alaka, who has lived in Northampton for more than 20 years, will launch When The Lagoon Decides at Royal & Derngate on Saturday 3rd October. Published by independent publisher Bauhaus Production, the novel is the first in a planned trilogy inspired by his own family history and years of historical research.
Growing up in Nigeria, Olaseni was told by his grandmother that the family descended from Lagos royalty. After settling in the UK, he began researching his ancestry, connecting with relatives across generations and eventually tracing his lineage to Erelu Kuti, the influential sister of a former Oba of Lagos. That discovery became the inspiration for the novel's central character.
"This book began with a simple question about my own family, but it grew into something much bigger," said Olaseni. "I wanted to explore the world my ancestors lived in and tell a story that is both personal and historical. Eighteenth-century Lagos was a place of trade, political intrigue, faith and profound change, and there are so many human stories from that period that deserve to be better known.
"I hope readers will become immersed in the characters while gaining a deeper understanding of the history that shaped them. Launching the book in Northampton, the community I now call home, makes this moment especially meaningful."
Set in Eko, the settlement that became modern-day Lagos, When The Lagoon Decides blends historical fact with fiction to recreate life in one of West Africa's most important trading centres during the early eighteenth century. The novel explores royal politics, family loyalties, spiritual traditions and the cultural forces that shaped the emergence of modern Lagos.
It also confronts the complexities of the transatlantic slave trade, acknowledging the roles played by both European traders and African kingdoms during the period. Rather than presenting a simplified account of history, the novel explores the moral ambiguities of the era through the lives of its characters.
At a time when conversations around identity, migration and Britain's historical relationship with Africa continue to evolve, Olaseni hopes the novel will encourage readers to engage with a shared history that is often overlooked.
The book’s launch event at the Northampton theatre will bring together literature, history, music and conversation, reflecting the themes at the heart of the novel. The launch will include readings from the novel, reflections from editor Jessica Chapman, a former BBC journalist, and a talk exploring the spiritual traditions featured in the story.
The event coincides with the opening week of Once Upon A Time In Sokoto, which receives its world premiere at Royal & Derngate, creating a day celebrating Nigerian storytelling through both theatre and literature.
"Historical fiction allows us to step into the lives of people who shaped the world we know today," Olaseni added. "If this novel encourages readers to discover more about the history of Lagos and the connections between Africa and Britain, then it will have achieved what I hoped it would."
Entry to the launch is free, with capacity for 200 guests.