Although he wrote for both children and adults, he is especially well. He was one of the first authors to publish a new type of. Even as other nigerian novelists have become famous or experienced a revival, cyprian ekwensi is still lesser known, but he deserves to be more famed for jagua nana. Cyprian ekwensi who has died aged 86, was often referred to as the father of the modern west african novel more prolific than most of his contemporaries and more versatile than any other writers except wole soyinka. Cyprian ekwensi the guardian nigeria news nigeria and. Cyprian ekwensi as a national, urban or panafrican writer. The novel was later republished in 1975 as part of the influential heinemann african writers series the novel focuses on the contradictions within the life of an aging sex worker, the title character jagua nana. Lindfors combines detailed and meticulous scholarship with an. Cyprian ekwensi who has died aged 86, was often referred to as the father of the modern west african novel. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext.
Cyprian ekwensi was born on september 26, 1921 in minna, niger, nigeria as cyprian odiatu duaka ekwensi. Cyprian ekwensi, a popular nigerian fictional writer, sets most of his novels in the urban cities. One day, whilst with his sons grazing their cattle an incident occurred that would affect all their lives including the children. Cyprian ekwensi is one of the early nigerian creative writers who has been brought to limelight in africa and beyond through his writings.
The second world war was in its third year, and owning radio sets was more difficult than procuring essential commodities in that unsettled moment of history. Cyprian ekwensi books list of books by author cyprian. In ekwensis burning grass, the very opening lines set the atmosphere of aridity characteristic of. Destructive ethnic consciousness and the search for. The passport of mallam ilia is a typical african story and written by a true african writer. The writer also seems to advocate for purity,contentment and selfcontrol. The emphasis is on anglophone africa, although a number of volumes were translated. Mar 17, 2020 chinua achebe, in full albert chinualumogu achebe, born november 16, 1930, ogidi, nigeriadied march 21, 20, boston, massachusetts, u. It is about a woman caught between true love and the need to fend for herself by. It was written in a somewhat lighter, more colloquial style than some other novelists but it has very real emotions, shows a side of lagos that is not often shown, and overall is a. If youre familiar with literary works of the 60s and 70s, cyprian ekwensi needs no introduction.
Cyprian ekwensi world literature is a resource for students who seek information beyond the simple biographical details of an authors life or a brief overview of the authors major works. Cyprian ekwensi although cyprian odiatu duaka ekwensi, born on 26 september 1921 in niger state, has been with his ancestors for over 10 years, he still lives on in the minds of those touched by. Cyprian ekwensi author visit amazons cyprian ekwensi page. Of all the characters i have written about, i bet id be beryl in say you love me because there are times when i embody such calm in tough times. The novel was later republished in 1975 as part of the influential heinemann african writers. Cyprian ekwensi, ekwensi, cyprian 1921 author for more than a halfcentury, nigerian author cyprian ekwensi has been known for his prolific output of popular novels novel, novel, in modern literary usage, a sustained work of prose fiction a volume or more in length. Cyprian ekwensi mfr 26 september 1921 4 november 2007 was a nigerian author of. Russian translation, 1965 and jagua nana 1961, ekwensi criticizes the morality of nigerias developing bourgeoisie and reveals the psychological problems of urbanization in africa. His novels are eight in number, namely, people of the city 1954, jagua nana1961, burning grass 1962, beautiful feathers. According to him, the writer only finds himself, only realises himself, through his. Cyprian ekwensi, pharmacist, writer and cultural activist, had his first short stories broadcast by the british broadcasting corporation during the colonial era. Many would remember the novel as one of the secondary school literature books of the late 90s.
It is about a woman caught between true love and the need to. Magic carpet studios in nigeria is currently handling the film project. Cyprian odiatu duaka ekwensi was a nigerian author, pharmacist, journalist and broadcaster. Sep 04, 2019 jagua nana by cyprian ekwensi pdf cyprian ekwensis jagua nana is a tale of life in lagos in the early s. We stated in the article below that cyprian ekwensis first novel, people of the city, published in 1954, was the first nigerian work to gain international acclaim and.
He was a writer, known for independent nigeria 1956 and history of the negro people 1965. No matter how uneven the quality of his novels may b yi gebcrar, ekwensi remains one o. Russian translation, 1965 and jagua nana 1961, ekwensi. It is distinguished from the short story and the ficti. Cyprian ekwensi, in full cyprian odiatu duaka ekwensi, born sept. York, nor is it a collection of poets writing about new york we don. The re putable nigerian writer, chinua ach ebe, and others, sugg est that a differenc e exists between the african short story and the short story as it is defined in the west. A story of desire and vengeance, this book starts with the longing of a wealthy man called shehu for a child of his own and continues with the obsessive search by abu bakir for revenge on shehu for luring away the woman he was to marry. Although jama is such a lazy coward but rich man known all over,aminas family are blinded by the lumpsome bride price and want to force a marriage between amina and jama,which was void of any traces of true love. The passport of mallam ilia by cyprian ekwensi film. Situating his works in various regions of nigeria and writing for a readership that transcends age, the most comprehensive way to describe ekwensi is as a nigerian author in both his nationality and the scope of his literature.
The crowded train moves past a busy train station, the camera pans through the window of the train showing you people dressed in the attire appropriate for northern nigeria in the 1940s, traders with goods on their heads, mothers with babies on their backs, and other. Jan 24, 2008 we stated in the article below that cyprian ekwensi s first novel, people of the city, published in 1954, was the first nigerian work to gain international acclaim and the first nigerian novel to. The novel has been compared to works by charles dickens, in terms of. His 1954 people of the city was the first book by a nigerian to garner international attention. Pdf a negative literary image of the city is prevalent in a variety of texts as a. Prolific writer who chronicled modern life in west africa. I read this piece by cyprian ekwensi, a great nigeria literally icon who did so much to enlighten the minds of young nigerians of my generation and to excite our appetites for knowledge, long time ago when i was still in secondary school and just. Cyprian ekwensi wrote hundreds of short stories, radio and television scripts, and several dozen novels, including childrens books. If i were an american living in america or europe, i would be floating in a foam bath in my own private yacht off the coast of florida. Because cities are almost always infested by girls and mature women, most of his novels centre around women, urban life, night life and their moral antecedents and. The late cyprian ekwensi is an author whose oeuvre cannot easily be categorised in any single genre. Also new to penguin is prolific nigerian igbo writer cyprian ekwensi. Cyprian ekwensi has 33 books on goodreads with 6852 ratings.
Bold, moving, entertaining and controversial, this is the great novel of 1960s lagos life with one of the most. Since 1969, the reputation of cyprian ekwensi as a novelist has been strug. He is a native of nkwelle ezunaka in oyi local government area, anambra state, nigeria. Situating his works in various regions of nigeria and writing. I read this piece by cyprian ekwensi, a great nigeria literally icon who did so much to enlighten the minds of young nigerians of my generation and to excite our appetites for knowledge, long time ago when i was still in secondary school and just wanted to read it again to help me appreciate even more what i had read years back. Five decades or more of writing have brought me world fame but not fortune, he said in 1999. He is considered by many to be the father of modern nigerian literature and was the second nigerian to gain international acclaim for writing with his first novel people of the city 1954. Early lifeekwensi was born in minna in presentday niger state on september 26, 1921. Burning grass african writers series 9780435906696. Chinua achebe, grace ogot, jane austen, abidemi sanusi, stanley gazemba, ayn rand, and cyprian ekwensi. Cyprian ekwensi burning grass is a story about the life of fulani herdsmen narrated through mai sunsaye. Dec 15, 2014 the writer also seems to advocate for purity,contentment and selfcontrol. Cyprian ekwensi article about cyprian ekwensi by the.
Cyprian ekwensi article about cyprian ekwensi by the free. One of a series of readers for african students which aims to help them to develop an awareness and a love of language, and consists of stories from all over africa. The film adaptation of the popular classic book by cyprian ekwensi, the passport of mallam ilia, is currently ongoing. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The passport of mallam ilia by cyprian ekwensi film adaptation. One of a series of readers for african students which aims to help them to develop an awareness and a love of language, and consists of. Obiechina comments on ekwensis description of the landsape in burning grass as an example of the west african writer s treatment of time and space.
Cyprian ekwensi is, by any standard a major figure in african literature of the midtwentieth century. This essay, divided into three parts, examines the third of the issues identified above as it involved the popular writer, cyprian ekwensi. Using the novels of cyprian ekwensi, buchi emecheta, and other lesserknown authors, osa discusses young adult love, marriage customs, the restraints placed on women, and the catastrophic effects of polygamy. Chinua achebe, in full albert chinualumogu achebe, born november 16, 1930, ogidi, nigeriadied march 21, 20, boston, massachusetts, u. Three years ago, penguin hit paydirt with its little black classics range. Jagua nana by cyprian ekwensi pdf cyprian ekwensis jagua nana is a tale of life in lagos in the early s. Jul 04, 2016 cyprian ekwensi a popular nigerian writer, was convinced of the above need that is why he adopted a literary style and introduced the literary themes that satisfy the needs and aspirations of his people most especially in the new era of contact with the new western values which sweep the old african traditions. Lokotown by cyprian ekwensi so today, i took a dive into one of my antique collections and picked lokotown, a collection of interesting short stories by cyprian ekwensi.
We imagine what a contrast the film will be when considering the kinds of contemporary stories made in nollywood today. Cyprian odiatu duaka ekwensi ehkwehnsee has an important but controversial place in contemporary nigerian englishlanguage literature. Obiechina comments on ekwensi s description of the landsape in burning grass as an example of the west african writer s treatment of time and space. Destructive ethnic consciousness and the search for national. In ekwensi s burning grass, the very opening lines set the atmosphere of aridity characteristic of the northern savannah. Cyprian ekwensis iska revisited michigan state university. The usual letterwriting of the nigerian popular pamphlet plays a central role in. See all books authored by cyprian ekwensi, including burning grass african writers series, and people of the city african writers series, and more on thriftbooks. This paper examines the personification of the city in cyprian ekwensi. Jagua nana is a 1961 novel by nigerian novelist cyprian ekwensi.
Cyprian ekwensis narrative in jagua nana presents us a psychosocial case in point in understanding the drivers of prostitution within the urban african society. An african nights entertainment, 1996, cyprian ekwensi. Cyprian odiatu duaka ekwensi, an igbo, was born in minna, niger state. Restless city and christmas gold, with other stories african writers series, no. Besides these two renowned african writers, the literary works of cyprian ekwensi circulate in africa so much so that his major novels are. Now he follows his indispensable collections of essays, early achebe and early soyinka, with this new collection on the early writings and publication history of amos tutuola, cyprian ekwensi, and ayi kwei armahwriters, as lindfors says, as different as night, dawn, and day. From its birth to date, nigerian literature witnessed a tremendous growth and development with the early publications of the literary works of chinua achebe and those of wole soyinka respectively. People of the city 1954 jagua nana 1961 burning grass 1961 divided we stand 1981. The nollywood animation category is getting a new addition.
Cyprian ekwensi mfr 26 september 1921 4 november 2007 was a nigerian author of novels, short stories, and childrens books biography early life, education and family. His most successful novel was jagua nana 1961, about a pidginspeaking nigerian woman who leaves her husband to work as a prostitute in a city and falls in. It is one of the books that always deserved a film adaptation. Ekwensi, cyprian 1921 a nigerianborn ibo novelist, short story writer, and pharmacist, ekwensi is considered a masterful stylist, most skillful in his depiction of rural africans forced into.
Mai sunsaye is a leader of his people and a medicine man, a man who knows how to treat people. The series has ensured an international voice to major african writersincluding chinua achebe, ngugi wa thiongo, steve biko, ama ata aidoo, nadine gordimer, buchi emecheta, and okot pbitek. Because cities are almost always infested by girls and mature women, most of his novels centre around women, urban life, night life and their moral antecedents and implications. Ebook the passport of mallam ilia as pdf download portable. More prolific than most of his contemporaries and more versatile than any other writers except wole soyinka. Ebook jagua nana as pdf download portable document format. Cyprian ekwensi born 1921 was a nigerian writer who stressed description of the locale and whose episodic style was particularly well suited to the. With the character of jagua, we find a young woman whose sojourn into the skin trade sprang from her restless spirit and a search for adventure. In ekwensis burning grass, the very opening lines set the atmosphere of aridity characteristic of the northern savannah. However, despite the publication of about eight major novels by cyprian. African writers series aws is a series of books by african writers that has been published by heinemann since 1962. Cyprian ekwensi mfr 26 september 1921 4 november 2007 was a nigerian author of novels, short stories, and childrens books. No nigerian writer has occupied himself with issues in the nigerian society more than cyprian.
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