Mamo and LaMamo are twin brothers living in a small Nigerian village, where their domineering father controls their lives. With high hopes the twins attempt to flee from home, but only LaMamo escapes to live their dream of becoming a soldier. Mamo, the awkward, sickly twin, is doomed to remain in the village. Gradually, he comes out of his father's shadow and gains local fame as a historian, embarking on a `true' history of his people. But when the rains fail and famine rages, religious zealots incite the people to violence - and LaMamo returns to fight the enemy at home.