Guest Post: 5 Best Authors Nigeria Has Ever Had

As citizens of Nigeria, it is bad if we fail to take notice of the fact that there are some persons who invested their hardwork to make sure that Nigeria is in the position it is today when it comes to literature. In this short article, i will mention some of the notable authors Nigeria ever had. Trust me; these writers contributed greatly to the growth of literature works in Nigeria.

Notable authors in Nigeria

Below are the best literature writers in Nigeria:

WOLE SOYINKA

Year: 1934.

Place of Origin: Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Awards/Prizes: European Theatre Prize, Noble price In Literature, Academy of Achievement Golden palate Award.

Notable Works: The Man Died, Murderous Angel, The Dance Of The Forest, The Bacchae of Euripides and others.

You can’t possibly make a list of good authors in Nigeria without mentioning Wale Soyinka. Soyinka is a poet, playwitter and an essayist. He was born in Abeokuta, Ogun state. After studying both in Nigeria and UK, Soyinka played great role in political and Nationalist struggle in Nigeria.

Soyinka also contributed enormously to the growth and development of Nigerian literature. He used his works to speak and communicate his perception with the society. Soyinka is indeed a great Nigerian writer. This has been underscored in almost all his literature works.

CHINUA ACHEBE

Year: 1930 -2013

Place Of Origin: Ogidi, Anambra, Nigeria.

Awards/Prizes: Nigerian National Order Of Merit Award, ST. Louis Literary Award, Man Booker National Price, The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Award and others.

Notable Works: Things Fall Apart, No Longer At Ease, Arrow Of God, Man Of The People and others.

Chinua Achebe Chinụalụmọgụ is also one of the best authors Nigeria ever had. He was born in Ogidi, Anambra State, Nigeria, during the British colonialist activities in Nigeria. Chinua was a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. Achebe was an ardent supporter of his local culture and tradition. He hated the influence of the western world on his society. This was also highlighted in almost all his literature works. You may want to see the how colonialismchanged Nigeria through its constitution here. –https://bscholarly.com/historical-development-of-nigerian-constitution/

His book “Things Fall Apart” was the second book he wrote, and it was this same book that gave him his high position in Nigerian literature. He also wrote other notable and stupendous works that were and are still recommended in many universities in the world. He was married to Christiana Chinwe Okoli, who gave him 4 (four) children. Chinua Achebe died in 2013.

CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE

Year: 2003

Place Of Birth: Enugu State, Nigeria.

Awards/Prizes: MacAuthor Fellowship, Reader’s Digest Author of the Year Award, Pen Pinter prize and others.

Notable Works: Purple Hibiscus, Half Of A Yellow Sun, American and Feminist Manifesto and others.

Chimamanda Adichie is undoubtedly of the best literature writers in Nigeria. She is the most prominent writer in Nigeria, who studied in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). At first, she studied medicine for a half year, and later travelled to the UK to study political science and communication.

Most of Adichie’s work is centred on the experiences of the igbo people during the Biafran war. Her book “Purple Hibiscus”, is said to picture the deplorable experiences of the Igbos in Nigeria during the war. Adichie is indeed one of the best literature writers in Nigeria. She has won so many awards and prizes in different countries of the world.

CYPRIAN EKWENSI

Year: 1921 – 2007

Place Of Origin: Oyi, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Awards/Prizes: Dag Hammarskjöld International Prize and others.

Notable Works: People Of The City, Drummer boy, Jagua Nana, Rainmaker, Beautiful Fathers and others.

Cyprian Ekwesi is another superb author in Nigeria. He studied Pharmacy in Yaba Technical institution, which is now known as YabaTECH. Cyprian is very skilled in writing short stories, novels and children books.

Cyprian Ekwesi’s was incessantly trying to curb the Social Vises in the society and the country at large. This was clearly shown in his book titled “Jagua nana” and “Drummer Boy”. Cyprian Ekwesi is probably one of the most prominent writer of Children books. He was married to Eunice Anyiwo, who had five children for him. There is apparently no doubt that this man is one of the best literature writers in Nigeria. Ekwensi later died on the 4th of November, 2007.

CHRIS ABANI

Year: 1966

Place Of Origin: Afikpo, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Awards/Prizes: PEN USA West Freedom-to-Write Award, Silver Medal, California Book Award, Finalist, Los Angeles times Book Prize, Recipient, Distinguished Humanist Award and others.

Notable Works: Song For Night, Graceland, The Virgin Of Flames, Becoming Abigail, Dog Woman, The Face and others.

Chris Abani is one of the best literature writers in Nigeria currently. He is a Nigerian American author. He was born on the 27th of December, 1966 in Afikpo, Nigeria. Abani is one of those writers that made sure their literature reflected what was going on in his society. The wrote his first book “Master of the board” at the age of sixteen. This work of his, clearly reflected the Nigerian political situation. The novel centred on the various coup by the Military in Nigeria.

Abani has greatly succeeded in conveying many English audience to understand the experience of the people in Nigeria. No doubt, Chris Abani is indeed a good writer.

Okay, those are the notable authors Nigeria has ever had in her history. They are the best and most popular because of their literature works. Even though most of the authors mentioned here are late, their literature works are still respected and captivating. No doubt, you can check out the superb works of the above writers to confirm.

Author: Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka Ch,MC is a law student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). He is a Chartered Mediator and the owner of the popular https://bscholarly.com.