Isepe

Name: Isepe
SKU: 108541
Availability: InStock

₦15,000.00

In Yorùbá wisdom, the saying “Ọmọ lèrè” captures a cultural truth — a child is a parent’s reward. Tradition holds that children are meant to care for their parents in old age, securing blessings for themselves in return. But in a world of shifting ideologies, this belief is now challenged, seen by some as an echo of entitlement and black tax.

Widowed and aging, Ìyá Ẹ̀bùn finds herself at war — not with the world, but within her own bloodline. Olúbùnmi, a woman married into a storm, finds herself questioning where love ends and tradition begins.

ÌṢẸ́PẸ́ is a genre-bending novel that navigates motherhood, widowhood, black tax, religion, taboo, paedophilia, and the quiet violences that fester within the home. It is a story of love, loss, and the price of silence — told through the aching hearts of women and men searching for meaning in the wreckage.

4 in stock

About the Author

Yusuf Àlàbí Balógun (Àrẹ̀mọ Gemini) is a multifaceted artist – poet, storyteller, TEDx speaker, art specialist, with a core focus in Yorùbá arts and culture.

Recipient of Horn of Afroclassical Merit Award for excellence in the propagation of arts and culture (2018), his art is guided by so many drives, one of which is to sell out O2 Arena, London for Yorùbá oral arts. He has transversed borders and stages, from Felabration to Aké Arts and Book Festival, Lagos International Poetry Festival, Afropolis, Kwara Book and Arts Festival, Goethe Institut, San Francisco International Arts Festival, among others. He has worked on notable creative campaigns using poetry as a vessel, including a Yorùbá poetry production for YES FM, Ìbàdàn (2022). He was the principal performer for the official commissioning of John Randle Centre for Yorùbá arts and culture, whilst also gracing the stage for Tẹlẹ́dálàṣẹ’s The Blue Garden Concert. He was also one of the delegated poets for World Poetry Day 2025 celebration, under the aegis of Providus Bank, with Professor Wole Soyinka as the special guest.

He is the author of the critically acclaimed Yorùbá genre bending novel – Ṣẹ̀gílọlá Arómirẹ́ Ògìdán and he has numerous works to his credits, including collaboration with South African artiste – Willemien Rust (Beginnes & Eindes), Jùwọ́n Adénúgà (Ìyá Ìyá), Abdulwasiu Salimat (Goloto), Nigerian musical artiste, Temmie Ovwasa (Space Fuji), Nigerian filmmaker and director, Ṣeun Afọlábí (Atọ́ka). His poem “Àbámọ̀” was the official soundtrack for Remi Ibinola’s movie – Charms.

His works have been translated and featured prominently in several magazines, including the poem ‘Òkùnkùn’ which was recently translated to Slovenia by famed Slovene poet, Brane Mozetic and published in the magazine – Poetikon. His art is heavily influenced by grassroot realities, female emancipation, marginalised tales and historical preservation. Àrẹ̀mọ Gemini believes that necessary stories should be told, even from a small room.