Ogiso’s Eleven

When we started this journey with Shobo and Shof Coker’s series Bronze Faces, we suggested that the book was a work of art teeming with heart and purpose. As the series concludes, it is evident that this is a piece of extraordinary storytelling that embodies all the emotional qualities of a beloved African folktale.

Bronze Faces follows a group of young Nigerian expats who seek to reclaim their cultural legacy by stealing the famous bronze masks of Benin and returning them to their ancestral home. The heists in each issue are orchestrated by the creative team—Shobo, Shof, and artist Alexandre Tefenkgi—with amazing ingenuity and a cinematic flair that rivals Ocean’s Eleven. As each excursion gets more dangerous, the Ogiso group grows exponentially. By the end of issue five, it is evident that this story is more than a simple game of cat and mouse; it is a mission of reclamation of identity on a global scale.

Dream Catching

The conclusion of this six-part series feels dream-like as the artifacts are returned home and the country enters a state of euphoric social and political celebration. However, this ethereal quality cuts both ways. The finale feels somewhat convenient, as nearly all of our heroes—with the notable exception of Timi—emerge unscathed. After the high-octane tension of the previous issues, one might have hoped for a more traditional, climactic conclusion to match the excitement of the heists.

Furthermore, the ending of this story follows the Yoruba myth of Shango, Gbonka, and Timi to the letter. As illustrated on the final page of Bronze Faces: “Gbonka stepped out of Sango’s fire breath unharmed. The righteous Gbonka smote Sango and exiled the king…”

The Art of Mythmaking

While the finale might lack a visceral punch, a close reading suggests it should be interpreted as a thing of legend. The final steps of the plan are relayed second-hand by a Nigerian cab driver, a narrative choice that leans into deliberate mythmaking. This effectively reconstructs Nigeria as a cultural utopia, brimming with hope for a brighter future. As the character Rose aptly puts it: “True art completes itself in the viewer’s mind.” In this vein, Bronze Faces succeeds entirely. It doesn’t just tell a story; it completes a vision of art and restoration in the minds of its readers.

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