Chris Abani

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Chris Abani
Chris Abani
The poem Ode to Joy on a wall in the Dutch city of Leiden
The poem Ode to Joy on a wall in the Dutch city of Leiden

Christopher Abani (or Chris Abani) (born December 27, 1966) is a Nigerian author.

He was a political prisoner in Nigeria at various times during 1985 and 1991. At times he was held in solitary confinement and he was held on death row for some time after being sentenced to death for treason.

He is a Professor at the University of California, Riverside and the recipient of the PEN USA Freedom-to-Write Award, the Prince Claus Award, a Lannan Literary Fellowship, a California Book Award, a Hurston/Wright Legacy Award and the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award. Selections of his poetry appear in the online journal Blackbird.

Contents

[edit] Works

[edit] Novels

  • The Virgin of Flames (Penguin, 2007)
  • GraceLand (FSG, 2004/Picador 2005)
  • Masters of the Board (Delta, 1985)

[edit] Novellas

  • Becoming Abigail (Akashic, 2006)
  • Song For Night (Akashic, 2007)

[edit] Poetry

  • Hands Washing Water (Copper Canyon, 2006)
  • Dog Woman (Red Hen, 2004)
  • Daphne's Lot (Red Hen, 2003)
  • Kalakuta Republic (Saqi, 2001).

[edit] Awards, grants and honors

[edit] 2006

  • A New York Times Editor's Choice (Becoming Abigail)
  • A Chicago Reader Critic's Choice (Becoming Abigail)
  • A selection of the Essence Magazine Book Club (Becoming Abigail)
  • A selection of the Black Expressions Book Club (Becoming Abigail)
  • Pushcart Nomination (poetry) (A Way To Turn This To Light)
  • Finalist for IMPAC Dublin Prize (GraceLand).

[edit] 2005

  • Winner, PEN Hemingway Book Prize. (GraceLand)
  • Winner, Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Debut Fiction (GraceLand)
  • Silver Medal, California Book Award for Fiction (GraceLand)
  • Finalist, Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction. (GraceLand)
  • Finalist, Commonwealth Writers Prize, Best Books (Africa Region)(GraceLand)
  • Pushcart Nomination for Blooding. StoryQuarterly.

[edit] 2003

  • Lannan Foundation Literary Fellowship, USA
  • Hellman/Hammet Grant from Human Rights Watch, USA.

[edit] 2002

  • Imbongi Yesizwe Poetry International Award, South Africa.

[edit] 2001

  • PEN USA West Freedom-to-Write Award, USA.
  • Prince Claus Award for Literature & Culture, The Netherlands.
  • Middleton Fellowship, University of Southern California, USA

[edit] External links

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