The Unseen Hand: A Biography of Prof. Isaac Olugboyega Alaba

This book is a biography of Prof. Isaac Olúgbóyèga Àlàbá, a distinguished scholar in the field of Yorùbá Studies. Told through the lens of a millennial, the book chronicles Prof. Àlàbá’s life from his childhood in the 1940s in Ìgàngàn, a rural town in present-day Ọ̀yọ́ State, Nigeria, to his elementary education, to becoming a pupil teacher, street hawker, farm laborer, houseboy, trained teacher, to his rise to becoming a university scholar and his contributions over the past 50 years towards the preservation and advancement of the study of Yorùbá language, literature and culture. It captures an inspiring story of perseverance, determination, character, faith and hope.

The Unseen Hand provides a vivid picture of the operations of God’s hand working behind the scenes in man’s journey and presents ten key lessons from Prof. Àlàbá’s life that can empower you to successfully navigate through life and fulfill your God-given mission. The book also sounds the alarm over the impending extinction of Yorùbá language and rich culture and makes a strong case for its preservation.