Women Writers Initiative

Nigeria


CLAIRE, Andree (Renee Jung)

Birth date: 1916
Birthplace: Nigeria
Education: Ethnological Institute in the Sorbonne majoring in Black Africa studies.
Professional Career: Author of poetry in the French language. She has taught and traveled in several African countries. Left Nigeria in 1974 where she was the Cultural Attache to the President of the Republics Cabinet.

Works

  • Pierres chretiennes de syrie. Paris: Ediciones Eric Koehler, 1998.

 

OVBIAGELE, Helen

Birth date: May 13, 1944
Birthplace: Benin City, Nigeria
Education: University of Lagos majoring in English/French studies
Professional Career: Ovbiagele taught French at Lagos City College and bilingual studies at the Institut Francais du Royaume Uni in South Kensington, London. She worked in the overseas office of the Universities of Ghana in London before returning to Nigeria in 1976 and working for the Peugot automobile Nigeria CTD in Lagos, as well as Vanguard Newspapers.

Works

  • Evbu My Love. Harare: College Press, 1982.
  • A Fresh Start. London: Macmillan, 1982.
  • You Never Know.
  • Forever Yours.
  • Who Really Cares.
  • The Schemers.

 

UGOCHUKWU, Francoise

Birthdate: 1949
Birthplace: Valence, France
Education: Degree in Classical Literature from the University of Grenoble in 1970. Degree in English and a Master's Degree in French Literature in 1971. Doctorate in 1974.
Professional Career: Author of children's books. She taught French at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka and is currently teaching at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.

Works

  • Contes igbos du nigeria, de la brousse a la riviere (Igbo Tales From Nigeria, From the Bush to the River). Paris: Karthala, 1992.
  • Une poussiere d'or (A Golden Dust). Paris: EDICEF, 1987.
  • La source interdite (The Forbidden Spring). Paris: EDICEF, 1984.

 

ALKALI, Zaynab

Birth date: 1950
Birthplace: Borno State, Nigeria
Education: B.A. in English at Anmadu Bello University, 1973. M.A. in African literature in English, 1979.
Professional Career: Her work centers around themes such as forced marriages, child brides, polygamy, family loyalties, and the Nigerian culture/society. She is currently working at the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria and was the first Nigerian Moslem woman to publish fictional works in English.

Works

  • The Virtuous Woman. Ikeja, Nigeria: Longman, 1987.
  • The Stillborn. Ikeja, Nigeria: Longman, 1984.

 

OGUNYEMI, Chikwenye Okonjo

Birth date: 1939
Birthplace: Lagos, Nigeria
Education: B.A. at the University College in Ibadan, Nigeria in 1964. B.A. at the University of London. M.A. at Colombia University, New York City, 1968. Ph.D. at the University of Ibadan in 1978.
Professional Career: Specializes in fiction by Nigerian women. She was an instructor at Queen's College from 1971-72 and an instructor in Literature at the University of Ibadan in 1978. She moved to the U.S. as a political exile and now works at Sarah Lawerence College in Bronxville, New York.

Works

  • Africa Wo/Man Palava: The Nigerian Novel by Women. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996.

 

ONWUEME, Tess Akaeke

Birth date: 1954
Birthplace: Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria.
Education: M.A. at the University of Ife. Ph.D. at the University of Benin.
Professional Career: She has held various positions at the following universities: University of Wisconsin, Imo State University, and Vassar College. She now teaches African/mulicultural studies and is the author of plays and poetry.

Works

  • Three Plays (The Broken Calabash, Parables For a Season, The Reign of Wazobia). Detroit: Wayne State University/Heinemann Educational, 1993.
  • Go Tell It to the Women: An Epic Drama For Women. Newark, NJ: African Heritage Press, 1992.
  • Legacies: A Play. Ibadan, Nigeria: Heinemann Educational, 1989.
  • The Reign of Wazobia: A Play. Ibadan, Nigeria: Heinemann Educational, 1988.
  • Mirror For Campus. Owerri, Nigeria: Headway Communications Books, 1987.
  • Cattle Egret Versus Nama.
  • The Artist's Homecoming.
  • Ban Empty Barn and Other Plays. Owerri, Nigeria: Totan Publishers, 1986.
  • The Desert Encroaches. Owerri, Nigeria: Heins Nigeria Publishers, 1985.
  • The Broken Calabash. Owerri, Nigeria: Totan Publishers, 1984.
  • A Hen Too Soon.

 

SOFOLA, Zulu

Birth date: 1938
Birthplace: Issele-Uku, Nigeria
Education: B.A. at Virginia Unian University, 1960. M.A. in drama at the Catholic University of America, 1965. Ph.D. at the University of Ibadan, 1977.
Professional Career: Director and and writer of a variety of plays. She was the coordinator of extra-mural programme at the University of Ibadan from 1968-70. She has been the Head of the performing arts department at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State since 1989.

Works

  • Lost Dreams and Other Plays. Ibadan, Nigeria: Heinemann, 1992.
  • The Showers. Ilorin, Nigeria: 1991.
  • Song of a Maiden: A Play. Illorin, Nigeria: Heinemann, 1992.
  • Eclipso and the Fantasia. Ilorin, Nigeria: 1990.
  • Queen Omu-ako of Oligbo. Buffalo: Paul Robeson Theatre, 1989.
  • Memories in the Moonlight. Ibadan, Nigeria: Evans Brothers, 1986.
  • Old Wines are Tasty: A Play. Ibadan, Nigeria: University Press, 1981.
  • The Sweet Trap. Ibadan, Nigeria: Oxford University Press, 1977.
  • The Wizard of Law. Ibadan, Nigeria: Evans Brothers, 1975.
  • King Emene: Tragedy of a Rebellion. London: Heinemann Educational, 1974.
  • Wedlock of the Gods. Ibadan, Nigeria: Evans Brothers, 1973.
  • The Operators. Ibadan, Nigeria: Ibadan University, 1973.
  • The Disturbed Peace of Christmas. Ibadan, Nigeria: Daystar Press, 1971.
  • The Deer Hunter and the Hunter's Pearl. London: Evans Brothers, 1969.

 

ULASI, Adaora Lily

Birth date: 1932
Birthplace: Aba, Nigeria
Education: Pepperdine College, B.A. in journalism from the University of Southern California, 1954.
Professional Career: Writes detective novels that focus on the contrast between native African and British colonial officials as they solve crimes. She is currently the editor of the Nigerian Daily Times, Sunday Times, and Women's World magazines.

Works

  • Who is Jonah?. Ibadan, Nigeria: Onibonoje Publishers, 1978.
  • The Man From Sagama. London: Fontana, 1978.
  • The Night Harry Died.
  • Many Things Begin for Change. London: Michael Joseph, 1971.
  • Many Thing You No Understand. London: Michael Joseph, 1970.

 
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