A vivid portrayal of a nation in which corruption pervades, and an exploration of the underside of contemporary Nigerian society. When a solider comes to power, he promises to address the tragedy that is his society, but instead becomes embroiled in the seemingly unendless rotten institutions and ways of operating. Nkem Nwankwo is known as one of the major first generation African literary voices and cultural figures. He is best known for his novel, Danda (1964). The Scapegoat was first published in 1984, and was reissued in 2002.