Cyprian Ekwensi: CELEBRATING A LITERARY HERO

 

About a month ago, Africa lost one of her leading literary pathfinders. For six decades, Cyprian Odiatu Duaka Ekwensi lived true to his famed title; the founding father of African literature.

With over 40 titles to his credit, not to mention hundreds of radio and television scripts, Ekwensi was perhaps one of the most prolific writers on the continent.

Born to the family of Ogbuefi David and Agnes Ekwensi (short form of Aniekwenansi - the earth shall reject all evil) in Minna, in today's Niger State on September 26 1921,Ekwensi spent his childhood in the town of his birth. He later lived in Jos, where he attended the Jos Township School.

He was admitted into Government College, Ibadan in 1935. During World War II, his class at GCI was relocated to Achimota College in Ghana as the West African Frontier Force used the school. He returned to GCI to complete his secondary education, passing out in 1941.

A champion hurdler, ricketer and footballer, Ekwensi's all-round sporting excellence was to catch the attention of the Great Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who wrote about the young Cyprian in his work, My Odyssey .

As a student, he had a flair for the sciences. He read Forestry at Ibadan in 1943 and went on to qualify as a pharmacist at the Yaba Technical College in 1948, before proceeding to the Chelsea School of Pharmacy in England. Apart from the few years during which he worked as a teacher, forester and later pharmacist, he devoted his entire life to writing.
As a writer, Ekwensi was most popularly known for his fiction and short stories. He was a keen exponent of the Fulani culture. He gave rare insights into the ways of life and mores of the Fulani people.

Works such as Passport of Mallam Ilia , Burning Grass, Gone to Mecca and An African Night's Entertainment were extensively used as secondary school set books in Nigeria, particularly in the North.

His works are also characterized by a simple plot and accessible English. This gave the impression that writing was for him such an effortless preoccupation.

He made his characters instantly recognizable and his works were didactic without being judgmental. He had a way with themes ranging from the sacred and the religious to exploring the seamy sides of life. This fact was encapsulated in Microsoft Corporation's description of the author as "a prolific and popular writer(who) owes his immense success to his ability to write realistically about current issues affecting ordinary people..."

Amongst the book written by Cyprian Ekwensi and Published by E.A.E.P are :-



·         Burning Grass

·         Rainmaker and  Other Stories

·         The Drummer Boy

·         An African Night's Entertainment

·         The Passport of Mallam Ilia

·         The Great Elephant Bird

·         The Motherless Baby (for junior Readers)

·               Juju Rock Adventure

 

(All these books are now available at our online shop at amazing discounts)

Perhaps Ekwensi's greatest distinction was the fact that he was the first truly pan-Nigerian writer.
He also led a simple and unpretentious life, despite being a man of many firsts. He was the pioneer author in what is now celebrated as Onitsha Market Literature, the first Nigerian Head of Features in the then Nigerian Broadcasting Service, first Nigerian Director of Information, first Nigerian to win the Daag Hammarskjöld International Prize for Literary Merit (1968) and the first Anambra son to be installed Osi Baarohin of Ibadanland. Ekwensi's life itself is a case study in literary and intellectual success. He also served as an adviser to the Biafran Head of State - Odumegwu Ojukwu in the Biafran days.

At the time of death, he was on the last chapter of his autobiography titled In My Time . Seven years ago, Nigeria honoured him with the award of the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic , MFR.
Cyprian Ekwensi died at the Niger Foundation Enugu and was survived by his wife, 5 children and many grandchildren. Amongst his many accolades was his receipt of an International Award for Literary Merit in 1968.

The remains of the foremost writer and doyen of Nigerian novels, Chief Cyprian Ekwensi who died on Sunday, November 4, at 86, will be laid to rest on January 4, 2008, in his home town in Nkwelle Ezunaka, Enugu State, South East of Nigeria.

According to the programme signed by Mr. Goerge Ekwensi, on behalf of the family, the novelist's final journey home will commence on January 2 with a holy mass and songs of praise at Hillview Crescent, Independent Layout, Enugu, followed by a funeral mass at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, also in Enugu, the following day.
As we celebrate Cyprian's Works, we offer young readers an early Christmas gift. Buy any of Cyprian's Books and enjoy a 5 % Discount. All deliveries within Nairobi will be free of Charge.