Nasty protagnist is exiled at height of his local authority, then returns to hometown after arrival of British Empire, gets involved with a failed uprising.
As horrible as the locals happen to be, they are saints compared to the Empire, which casually destroys towns and imposes its lunatic religion on the locals, along with market economics.
Persuasive presentation, non-patronizing, including plenty of framed micronarratives, local proverb, West African animism, and even some legal proceedings. A protest against and acknowledgement that all that is solid melts into air.
Recommended.