‘Writer-In-Residence’ program at 鶹AV welcomes renowned Nigerian writer
Contact: Sarah Nicholas
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Internationally-acclaimed Nigerian poet, playwright and author Chigozie Obioma will visit 鶹AV as the Writer-in-Residence next month, bringing his in-depth wisdom of African literature—shaped by his Igbo heritage and Nigerian upbringing––to explore themes of fate, family and the clash between tradition and modernity with the 鶹AV community.
Obioma, the Helen S. Lanier Distinguished Professor at the University of Georgia, is an acclaimed author whose first two novels were shortlisted for the Booker Prize. His debut novel, “The Fishermen,” a 2015 Little, Brown and Company publication, was honored with the Financial Times/Oppenheimer Emerging Voices Award and shortlisted for the esteemed Booker Prize, while “An Orchestra of Minorities,” a 2019 Little, Brown and Company, also earned a Booker Prize shortlist designation.
Hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences’ Institute for the Humanities and the Department of English, Obioma will spend April 8-12 engaging with students, staff and faculty. Free and open to the public, dz’s reading is April 10, 7:30 p.m. in Old Main Academic Center, Room 1030.
The event also includes a question-and-answer session, followed by an opportunity to purchase signed copies of dz’s novels. The venue is accessible via the S.M.A.R.T. public transportation system and offers a parking garage.
In addition, Obioma will host a virtual workshop April 9, 5:30-6:30 p.m., exploring the concept of “the fiction condition” and the role of character-driven narratives in revealing truths about human nature. Interested participants can register for the free workshop at and receive a link to the virtual event.
“I am very excited to spend a week with Chigozie talking and thinking about community, history and the ways that literature can be used to at once preserve traditions and write new stories,” said Morgan Robinson, director of 鶹AV’s Institute for the Humanities and associate professor of history.
Having moved to the United States in 2010, Obioma earned a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in English and creative writing from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. At UGA, he is a mentor to emerging writers, contributing to the discourse on African literature and storytelling.
The Writer-in-Residence program is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities through the Mississippi Humanities Council.
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