Upcoming Nigerian writers

Over the years Africa has recorded a straight line of great, excellent, amazing, talented authors and writers.

Their works have paved the way for African literature to be well accepted and appreciated in the literary market. They have received awards of different kinds home and abroad. 

I bring you to Nigeria, where we have the likes of Wole soyinka, the first African writer to win a Nobel prize for literature in 1986, Helon Habila author of oil on water, chimamanda Adichie, chinua Achebe, Buchi Emecheta, and more.

While we have spent so many years obsessing about these great writers whose books would never be forgotten in history, it's time to open your eyes and see the new breed of young Nigerian writers who are also working hard and are ready to keep African literature on top.  

JOSHUA EFFIONG: He is a Nigerian poet, born in 1991. He studies science laboratory technology in the university of Calabar. 

He is not just a writer, he is an author. He published his first poetry chapbook titled Autopsy of things left unnamed in 2021. His works have appeared in several journals and magazines, some of which are shallow tales review, rough cutpress, rising Phoenix review and more. Recently, he emergered winner of the 2022 Asterlit competition, poetry category. Connect with him on Instagram @josh.effiong

OLOLADE EDUN: Ololade Edun is a native of ogun state, Nigeria. He is a poet, Microbiologist and a Medical student. His passion for science and medicine hasn't stopped him from achieving great feats as a writer. His works have been published across several journals, magazines and blogs, some of which are; 'you won't find God here' on  Eboquills, ' what does it mean to die' on TVOtribe, 'Delilah&Laburu' on Kalahari review.

He has also published some books namely; a poetry chapbook titled TIME, Closet of secrets and Understating POV in frictional writing. He's on Twitter @ololadewrites, meet him on Instagram @ololade_writes

CHIBUNDU ONUZO: Imachibundu Onuzo is a Nigerian novelist, she moved to England when she was fourteen, and published her first book at 21, titled the Spider King's daughter. It won a Betty Trask Award and has been shortlisted for the common wealth book prize and Dylan Thomas prize. 

On her second book, titled Welcome to Lagos, which was released in 2017, Literary legend Helon Habila praised her on her ability to bring her characters to life. 

 She obtained a first class Bsc from king's college London in 2012 and went on to earn a Master's degree in Public Policy from University college London. She is also the author of the novel, Sankofa. Connect with her on Instagram @chibundu.onuzo

GOSPEL CHINEDU:  He is a poet who writes from Anambra state. He studies Anantomy at Nnamdi Azikwe university. His poems have appeared in Rigorous magazine, Midway journal, Fiyah magazine, hoax publication, icefloe press, road runner magazine and more.

He is a moderator of audio poetry at the Poss Poetry Community. He also won the Starlit Award for the winter issue in 2021. He obtained an honorable mention in the creative diadem annual writing contest in 2021, the poetry category. He is on Instagram @gospelsofpoetry and Twitter @gonspoetry

It is nice to see these young writers using their talents and pens to create more interesting stories and poems. In their hands, African literature will continue to thrive.

© Mulero Abibat