The Man Who Gave Nigerian Cities a Voice Through Literature

Cyprian Ekwensi:

The Man Who Gave Nigerian Cities a Voice Through Literature

Before Nollywood… before social media… there was Cyprian Ekwensi the literary genius who painted the real picture of life in Nigerian cities through powerful storytelling.

Born on September 26, 1921, in Minna, Ekwensi was an Igbo man who grew up seeing the tension between tradition and modern life. Though trained as a pharmacist, his true gift was in writing stories that reflected the heartbeat of Nigeria’s cities especially Lagos.

In his breakthrough novel People of the City (1954), Ekwensi takes us into the fast-paced world of a reporter and dance-band leader living in Lagos exposing the realities of corruption, urban struggles, and the loss of cultural identity.

His bold and unforgettable book Jagua Nana (1961) tells the story of a woman surviving the streets of Lagos highlighting the power, pain, and choices of women in the city.

He also gave us Burning Grass, An African Night’s Entertainment, and several children’s stories that shaped generations.

Ekwensi wasn’t just writing fiction. He was documenting the real-life challenges many Nigerians still face today city pressures, moral dilemmas, lost traditions, and the search for identity.

Did You Know?
Cyprian Ekwensi also worked with the Federal Ministry of Information and was honored with national awards like the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for his literary contributions.

He passed away in Enugu on November 4, 2007, but his works still live on reminding us of who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re going as a people.

Have you ever read any of his books Let’s talk in the comments 👇🏽

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