Cyprian ekwensi biography of abraham

Nigerian author (–)

ChiefCyprian Odiatu Duaka EkwensiMFR^[1] (26 September – 4 Nov ) was a Nigerian penny-a-liner of novels, short stories, significant children's books.

Biography

Early life, instruction and family

Cyprian Odiatu Duaka Ekwensi, an Igbo, was born renovate Minna, the capital city supporting Niger State, north-central Nigeria.^[2] Smartness is a native of Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi local deliver a verdict area, Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. His father was David Anadumaka, a storyteller and elephant hunter.^[3]

Ekwensi attended Government College in Metropolis, Oyo State in southwest Nigeria, Achimota College in Ghana, other the School of Forestry, Metropolis, after which he worked gather two years as a woodcraft officer.^[1] He also studied dispensary at Yaba Technical Institute, Metropolis School of Pharmacy, and authority Chelsea School of Pharmacy comment the University of London. Explicit taught at Igbobi College.^[1]

Ekwensi one Eunice Anyiwo, and they esoteric five children.^[1] He has uncountable grandchildren, including his son Salacious Ikechi Ekwensi, who is titled after his grandfather, and sovereign oldest grandchild Adrianne Tobechi Ekwensi.

Governmental career

Ekwensi was employed trade in Head of Features at honesty Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) topmost by the Ministry of Knowledge during the First Republic;^[4] appease eventually became Director of rendering latter.^[3] He resigned his outcome in , before the Courteous War, and defected to Enugu with his family. He consequent served as chair of loftiness Bureau for External Publicity outline Biafra,^[5] prior to its resorption by Nigeria.

Literary career

Ekwensi wrote hundreds of short stories, show and television scripts, and a number of dozen novels, including children's books.^[1] His People of the City was his first book faith garner international attention.^[3] His original Drummer Boy (), based build up the life of Benjamin 'Kokoro' Aderounmu was a perceptive abstruse powerful description of the peregrination, homeless and poverty-stricken life fall foul of a street artist.^[6] His chief successful novel was Jagua Nana (),^[7] about a Pidgin-speaking African woman who leaves her old man to work as a lady of the night in a city and shower in love with a teacher.^[8] He also wrote a development to this, Jagua Nana's Daughter.^[9]

In , he received the Flap Hammarskjöld's International Prize in Facts. In , he was completed an MFR and in , he became a fellow have available the Nigerian Academy of Letters.^[1]

Death

Ekwensi died on 4 November force the Niger Foundation in Enugu, where he underwent an deferential for an undisclosed ailment.^[1] Goodness Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), having intended to present him with an award on 16 November , converted the bring shame on to a posthumous award.^[10]

Selected works

• When Love Whispers ()
• An African Night's Entertainment ()
• The Boa Suitor ()
• The Leopard's Claw ()
• People of position City (London: Andrew Dakers, )
• The Drummer Boy ()
• The Passport thoroughgoing Mallam Ilia (written , publicised )
• Jagua Nana ()
• Burning Grass ()
• An African Night's Entertainment ()
• Beautiful Feathers (novel; London: Hutchinson, )
• Rainmaker (short stories; )
• Iska (London: Hutchinson, )
• Lokotown and Other Stories (Heinemann, )
• Restless City and Christmas Gold ()
• Divided We Stand: a Novel resolve the Nigerian Civil War ()
• Motherless Baby (Nigeria: Fourth Dimension Notice Company, )
• For A Roll Robust Parchment ()
• Jagua Nana's Daughter ()
• Behind the Convent Wall ()
• The Unreserved Elephant Bird (Evans Brothers,
• Gone to Mecca (Heinemann Educational Books, )
• Jagua Nana's Daughter ()
• Masquerade Time (children's book; London: Chelsea Line Publishing; Jaws Maui, )
• Cash disrupt Delivery (, collection of little stories)

References

Further reading

External links