Chris Abani (Nigeria)

Chris Abani was born in Nigeria. At the age of sixteen he published his first novel, for which he suffered severe political persecution, landing in Kiri Kiri, a notorious maximum security prison. After his release his writing led to a further arrest and conviction for treason. He was subsequently held on death row. He went into exile in 1991, and has since lived in England and the United States.

Abani's 2004 novel, GraceLand, won widespread acclaim; Chris Dunton of the Sunday Independent considers it to be ‘….persuasive and moving. It is above all, a novel about reference points and the struggle to capture a place in the sun.' Other critics commend the novel as an "Absolutely beautiful work of fiction about complex and strained political structures', and ‘a watershed moment in the history of post-colonial literature.” Two further novels are due in 2006 and 2007.

Abani has been recipient of numerous awards: 2001 PEN USA Freedom-to-Write Award, 2001 Prince Claus Award, 2003 Lannan Literary Fellowship, 2005 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, 2005 California Book Award (Silver Medal), Finalist for 2005 Commonwealth Book Prize (Africa Region) and the 2005 Hemingway/PEN Prize. Graceland has also just been longlisted for the 2005 IMPAC Dublin Award.

Abani is now strongly affiliated with PEN, an international organisation that campaigns for freedom of expression, extends literacy and promotes universal literature. In addition to his works of fiction, Chris Abani has written award-wining poetry and has also captivated audiences all over the world with his saxophone. He is currently an Associate Professor at the University of California, Riverside, and teaches in the MFA Program at Antioch University, Los Angeles.

Bibliography

Poetry:
Kalakuta Republic (Saqi, 2000)
Daphne's Lot (Red Hen Press, 2003)
Dog Woman (Red Hen Press, 2004)
Hands Washing Water ( Copper Canyon, 2006)

Prose:
Masters of the Board (Delta, 1985)
GraceLand (Picador  Africa 2004)
Becoming Abigail (Akashic, 2006)
The Virgin of Flames (Penguin, 2007)