A young boy's willful decision has significant ramifications for the man he becomes in this tale of disillusionment and despair. Lured by the liturgy of a foreign religion and by his desire to become a scholar, Kofi Baako rejects his family, his community, and his obligation as heir apparent to the Stool of Gyedu's Shrine. However, as he approaches his last year in seminary, Kofi Baako abandons his dream of becoming a Catholic priest and moves to a remote town where his past is unknown. Tormented by his personal demons, Kofi Baako is unable to reconcile his emotions, and when an urgent telegram summons him back to his family and community, he is apprehensive about the journey and what he might find at its end.

C.O.T. Appiah skillfully constructs a tale where readers are confronted by some of life's fundamental questions. What constitutes our identity? What is our purpose? What are our true obligations, and how do we cope when we fail those whom we love?