Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

Adaobi Tricia Obinne Nwaubani
Born Enugu, Enugu State
Nationality Nigerian
Occupation Novelist
Known for Writing
Website Author's official website

Adaobi Tricia Obinne Nwaubani (born in 1976) is a Nigerian novelist, humorist, essayist and journalist. Her debut novel, I Do Not Come to you by Chance,[1] won the 2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book (Africa),[2][3] a Betty Trask First Book award,[4] and was named by the Washington Post as one of the Best Books of 2009.[5] Nwaubani is the first contemporary African writer on the global stage to have got an international book deal while still living in her home country.

Biography

Born in Enugu, Nigeria, to Chief Sir Chukwuma Hope Nwaubani and Dame Patricia Uberife Nwaubani in 1976, Nwaubani was raised by both parents in Umuahia, Abia State, among the Igbos of Eastern Nigeria. At the age of 10, she left home to attend boarding school at the Federal Government Girls College Owerri. She studied Psychology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria's premier university.[6]

As a teenager, Nwaubani secretly dreamed of becoming a CIA or KGB agent.[6] She earned her first income from winning a writing competition at the age of 13. Her mother is a cousin of Flora Nwapa, the first female African writer to publish a book.[7]

Nwaubani was one of the pioneer editorial staff of Nigeria's now defunct NEXT newspapers, established by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dele Olojede. She was the editor of élan, the fashion and style magazine of NEXT. She was later appointed to the position of opinion editor.

Nwaubani is the first writer in the history of world literature to capture the 419 scams phenomenon in a novel. She is also the first African writer to have got an international publishing deal while still living in her home country. She does not have any formal writing training.

In 2012, Nwaubani was selected as one of 15 emerging leaders in government, business and civil society from across West Africa, to attend a "Leadership for Change" training program sponsored by the Private Investors for Africa (PIA). Managed by the African Leadership Institute (AfLI), the program aims to create a network of "world class, pan-African, high potential, emerging leaders across all sectors, working in partnership as catalysts for change in Africa".

She lives in Abuja, Nigeria, where she works as a consultant.

Bibliography

I Do Not Come to You by Chance is Nwaubani's debut novel. It was published in 2009. Set in the intriguing world of Nigerian email scams, the book tells the story of a young man, Kingsley, who turns to his Uncle Boniface for help in bailing his family out of poverty. Boniface—aka Cash Daddy—is an exuberant character who suffers from elephantiasis of the pocket. He also runs a successful empire of email scams. But he can help. It is up to Kingsley to reconcile his passion for knowledge with his hunger for money, and to fully assume his role of first son. Publishers Weekly described Nwaubani's novel as "highly entertaining". The Washington Post described it as "a lively, good-humored and provocative examination of the truth behind a global inbox of deceit." The Times said: "This is a fast, fresh, often hilarious first novel, by one of the remarkably talented young African writers who are rapidly making everyone else look stale."

Awards

Publications

Influences

Nwaubani has expressed concern over the largely somber tone of African novels. She credits Irish-American writer Frank McCourt's Pulitzer-winning Angela's Ashes with showing her that she could write about serious issues in a humorous tone. She is also a great admirer of British humorist P. G. Wodehouse.

Controversies

Nwaubani's articles often generate heated debate. Her frank opinions in The New York Times and The Guardian have been known to anger sections of the African public.

See also

Nigerian woman novelists

References

  1. ↑ Nwaubani, Adaobi Tricia (2009). I Do Not Come to You by Chance. Hachette UK. ISBN 9780297858720.
  2. ↑ "Marié Heese and Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani Win the 2010 Commonwealth Writers Prize – Africa Region Awards". 11 March 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  3. ↑ Nwaubani, Adaobi Tricia (7 October 2012). "My degree is better than yours". Premium Times. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "The Betty Trask Prizes and Awards". The Society of Authors. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Best Books of 2009". Washington Post.
  6. 1 2 "About Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani". Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani website. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "Adaobi Nwaubani talks with African Writing Online [many literatures, one voice]; Interviews". African-writing.com. Retrieved 19 August 2013.

External links

Reviews

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