LAMADUBO
An African supernatural novel, told from the inside
The House of Happiness by Steve Tiambo is a supernatural novel set in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Witchcraft, possession, apparitions and occult circles are told by a family who lived through them, without folklore or caricature, and always set against faith, doubt and love.
In many neighbourhoods of Central Africa, witchcraft stories are part of the air you breathe. They are told to children, whispered between neighbours, called upon to explain what no one understands. The House of Happiness starts from that everyday reality.
The novel does not chase special effects. Fear comes from a cat staring at an empty spot, a wall vibrating at night, a family friend who smiles too much, an illness doctors cannot name. The reader always stays at the level of the children living these scenes.
Volumes to read
- The Wall — Amid lorries, cats and a power cut, this horror story probes the line between nightmare, premonition and faith.
- The Animal — A story about a father figure's fall.
- The Circle — In the Odza house in Yaoundé, she watches her parents' marriage fracture and her father sink into drink and a mysterious circle of village friends. One night, five crows in a ring herald a supernatural ordeal.
- The Sacrifice — His father locks himself away and talks to invisible presences, a traditional healer steps in, and Ike and his sister Régine must choose between the hospital and the village, a decision that haunts him for years.
Frequently asked questions
Is the book scary?
Some supernatural scenes are intense, especially in volumes 2, 3 and 4. But the novel always balances fear with faith, humour and family love.
Do you need to be religious to enjoy it?
No. Faith is at the heart of the story, but the book leaves room for doubt and speaks to anyone who has been through hardship.
Updated on 17 October 2026 · By Steve Tiambo, author