Gabriel Okara

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Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara is a Nigerian writer. He was born in Bomadi in Delta State, Nigeria, in April 1921. He is a poet and novelist; his novel The Voice was published by Heinemann in the African Writers Series.

Okara has written many poems, the most famous of which is "Piano and Drums."

Okara may be described as highly original and uninfluenced by other poets. In 1979 he was awarded the Commonwealth Poetry Prize. He has been extremely successful in capturing the moods, sights and sounds of Africa. His poems show great sensitivity, perceptive judgements and a tremendous energy. Okara also shows a concern regarding what happens when the ancient culture of Africa is faced with modern westernculture, for example in his poem, 'Once Upon a Time'.