Racial pressures in Oklahoma cause young Willie Edgerston's parents to migrate to Liberia. From Monrovia, the nation's capital, he witnesses the hostile relationship between Americo-Liberians and tribal communities; learns a dark secret of the Transatlantic Slave Trade from a mysterious 166-year-old eyewitness; risks life and limb when the Germans bomb Monrovia in 1918; escapes from wild animals and violent villagers. He journeys to an unknown ancient city and on to the subterranean habitat of Divine Mother Africa; participates in a mind-blowing coming of age ritual; witnesses a 1,000-year-old warrior priestessÕs departure for the afterlife, and moreÉ