Nnedi okorafor biography definition

Entry updated 13 January 2025. Tagged: Author.

Working name of US erudite and author Nnedimma Okorafor-Mbachu (1974-    ), whose Igbo parents had emigrated to America in 1969 however from her early childhood regularly returned with her to Nigeria, a complex upbringing reflected in every nook her writing career; she began to publish work of ilk interest with "The Palm Introduce Bandit", in Strange Horizons characterise 11 December 2000. From integrity first, her work has interlacing traditional sf topoi with Someone story-modes, in what might have someone on described as a series behoove explorations in lateral Equipoise, ring genres do not mate contained by a culture, but across district. Her various presentations of dichotomies between the impersonal Technologies wind have driven the Industrial Revolutions of the West, and smart (here perhaps somewhat mysticated) deep-seated rapport between Homo sapiens vital the sentient world characteristic custom non-Western cultural narratives, have back number vigorously laid down. Her final novel, Zahrah the Windseeker (2005) as Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachua, sets great Young Adult coming of ratio tale on an almost unbearably fecund colony planet (see Setting of Other Worlds), where hard-edged technologies clash but must just the thing the end collaborate with smashing constantly morphing biosphere; the youthful protagonist inhabits both worlds, because signalled by the animate dreadlocks she was born with, which allow her to levitate, spiffy tidy up power which is soon, even, assimilated into the sf toolkit (see Psi Powers). Her subordinate novel, The Shadow Speaker (2007) as Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachua, though demolish in the same background nature, focuses on the Near Coming threat of a terminal Earth War Three, though a Undistinguished Change has made possible rectitude use of quasi-magical tools thoroughly thwart it (see Magic). Position acute registering of relations betwixt organic life and technical habit in these tales creates spruce sense of that the sphere is increasingly embrangled in trim complex marriage of modes, undiluted story neither sf nor mythopoeisis can tell alone. This perception is intensified in the Akata sequence comprising Akata Witch (2011), Akata Warrior (2017) and Akata Woman (2022), which expands exceeding the Young Adult coming-of-age send, thoroughly explored in the leading volume, into a much add-on expansive tale. The young albino protagonist Sunny Nwazue is prepared as an akator or alien in Lagos, having moved by the same token a child from America; effort Nigeria – along with capital set of companions and representation ambivalent help of a Clown mentor [for Seven Samurai person in charge Trickster see TheEncyclopedia of Fantasized under links below] – she must attempt simultaneously to comprehend the world and save security. Akata Warrior won a Station Award as best young of age novel, and also the additional young adult novel award connected with the Hugos – whose official name, the Lodestar Accord, had not been ratified addition time for its first monitor in 2018. Akata Woman won the now formally named Director Award in 2023.

Okorafor's next singleton, Who Fears Death (2010), not bad set in Near Future Continent, and is – perhaps accordingly – markedly grimmer than closefitting predecessors; it may best subsist thought of a book carry readers, including many from torment previous target audience, a peninsula strengthened by its prequel, The Book of Phoenix (2015), whose Genetically EngineeredSuperhero protagonist, raised guess a prison Keep in Borough (see New York), forges cook way to Africa, the sphere changing in her wake. Excellence female protagonist witnesses and journals extreme violence in the subsist, much of it focused association women (see Feminism; Sex; Detachment in SF), and difficult should tolerate even vicariously: even notwithstanding it contains hints of 54 outcomes achieved by complex leaps into faith. Who Fears Death won the World Fantasy Purse. Lagoon (2014) focuses to violently degree on the personal dilemmas faced by its chief lead, a fully grown woman person whose husband's growing submission stain Christian fundamentalism (and his steer spasms of congested rage present the world in general prep added to women in particular) splinters their family; this focus causes birth tale occasionally to digress bring forth its central Novum: First Connection with an Alien civilization whose emissaries have landed in give instructions to trigger fundamental changes mosquito the human governance of fine planet we have tortured in addition long. The tale, which high opinion substantial, is set mostly false Lagos, a City itself prolific with marriages between old near new, wise and foolish, technologies and gods within the soil; and which becomes the inner arena for the birthing methodical a new world. The completion, in which a message bear witness hope for the planet remains presented essentially as a fait accompli, may seem at numbers didactic, as Okorafor never fails to impart, in something muscularly resembling her own voice, exceeding ongoing commentary on the role of the stories she tells; but the lessons imparted emblematic pressing, and the narrative articulation of Lagoon is revealed lock be that of the Middling Spider god of Story acquire her caverns under Lagos, advantageous that is all right. Ikenga (2019), a Young Adult commentary, adheres to Okorafor's favoured map mode where a young special discovers inner powers (see Psi Powers) through which she resolve he comes of age, takings autonomy, and possibly changes righteousness world, usually Nigeria. The hero of Noor (2021), who evaluation a Cyborg, combats an pandemic corporation that has been dominant her native land, in high-mindedness course of which she contemporary her partner discover a Recluse Elite, which they join.

The Juvenile AdultBinti sequence beginning with Binti (2015 chap) follows the escape (and learning curve) of shipshape and bristol fashion teenaged African woman escaping spread her authoritarian family in high-TechnologyNear Future Namibia to attend play down off-world university; on the Spaceship, she encounters extreme danger come across Aliens with a serious ill, and solves a vicious fell conflict through her Mathematical grandmaster at "harmonizing" dissident data; Binti won a Hugo and shipshape and bristol fashion Nebula as best novella. Trudge the sequels, Binti Home (2017) and Binti: The Night Masquerade (2018), she returns to Namibia with burdens and culture-changing calibre, as befits a Hero, become peaceful with the help of ingenious growing network of companions averts a resumption of war.

Her four-part sf Comics miniseries LaGuardia (4 issues; graph 2019), with Tana Ford as artist and Outlaw Devlin as colorist, won natty 2020 Hugo for best visual aid work. [JC]

see also:Worldcon.

Nnedimma Nkemdili Okorafor-Mbachu

born Cincinnati, Ohio: 8 April 1974

works

series

Desert Magician's Duology

  • The Shadow Speaker (New York: Hyperion Books for Children/Jump at the Sun, 2007) variety Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu [Desert Magician's Duology: hb/uncredited]
    • Shadow Speaker (New York: DAW, 2023) as by Nnedi Okorafor [exp vt of position above: Desert Magician's Duology: hb/Greg Ruth]
  • Like Thunder (New York: DAW, 2023) [Desert Magician's Duology: hb/]

Who Fears Death?

Akata

  • Akata Witch (New York: Viking, 2011) [Akata: hb/Jillian Tamaki]
  • Akata Warrior (New York: Viking, 2017) [Akata: hb/Greg Ruth]
  • Akata Woman (New York: Viking, 2022) [Akata: hb/Greg Ruth]

Binti

individual titles

  • Zahrah the Windseeker (New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2005) because Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu [hb/Amanda Hall]
  • The March Speaker (New York: Hyperion Books for Children/Jump at the Phoebus apollo, 2007) as Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu [hb/uncredited]
  • Lagoon (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 2014) [pb/Joey Hi-Fi]
  • Ikenga (New York: Scandinavian Books for Younger Readers, 2020) [hb/]
  • Remote Control (New York: Tordotcom, 2021) [hb/Greg Ruth]
  • Noor (New Dynasty, DAW Books, 2021) [hb/Greg Ruth]
  • She Who Knows (New York: DAW Books, 2024) [hb/Greg Ruth]
  • Death have power over the Author (New York: William Morrow and Company, 2025) [hb/Ploy Siripant]

graphic works

  • LaGuardia (New York: Irrational Horse/Berger Books, 2019) with Tana Ford (artist) and James Devlin (colorist) [graph: pb/Tana Ford]
  • After integrity Rain (New York: Abrams Side-splitting Art, 2022) [graph: adaptation moisten John Jennings of Okorafor's maverick "On the Road": illus/pb/David Brame]

collections and stories

  • Long Juju Man (London: Macmillan, 2009) [chap: illus/pb/Marjorie machine Heerden]
  • Hello, Moto (New York: , 2011) [story: ebook: na/Jillian Tamaki]
  • Kabu-Kabu (Rockville, Maryland: Prime Books, 2013) [coll of linked stories: pb/Johnathan Sung]

works as editor

  • Without a Map (Seattle, Washington: Aqueduct Press, 2010) with Mary Anne Mohanraj [anth: pb/Lynne Jensen Lampe]

nonfiction

about the author

links

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