Cyprian Ekwensi facts for kids

Cyprian Ekwensi (born September 26, 1921 – died November 4, 2007) was a famous Nigerian writer. He wrote many novels, short stories, and books for children. He was also known as a pharmacist and a broadcaster.

About Cyprian Ekwensi

His Early Life and Education

Cyprian Odiatu Duaka Ekwensi was born in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. His family came from Nkwelle Ezunaka in Anambra State. His father, David Anadumaka, was a great storyteller and an elephant hunter.

Cyprian went to several schools. He studied at Government College, Ibadan and Achimota College in Ghana. He also went to the School of Forestry in Ibadan. After that, he worked as a forestry officer for two years.

Later, he decided to study pharmacy. He attended the Yaba Technical Institute and the Lagos School of Pharmacy. He also studied at the Chelsea School of Pharmacy in London. Before becoming a full-time writer, he taught at Igbobi College.

His Family Life

Cyprian Ekwensi married Eunice Anyiwo. They had five children together. He also had many grandchildren. His son, Cyprian Ikechi Ekwensi, was named after him. His oldest grandchild is Adrianne Tobechi Ekwensi.

Working for the Government

Cyprian Ekwensi had an important job in the government. He was the Head of Features at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). He also worked for the Ministry of Information. Eventually, he became the Director of the Ministry of Information.

In 1966, he left his government job. He moved to Enugu with his family before the Nigerian Civil War started. During the war, he worked for Biafra's Bureau for External Publicity.

His Writing Career

Cyprian Ekwensi wrote many stories. He wrote hundreds of short stories and scripts for radio and TV shows. He also wrote dozens of novels, including many for young readers.

His book People of the City, published in 1954, was his first book to become famous around the world. Another well-known novel is The Drummer Boy (1960). This book tells the story of a street artist named Benjamin 'Kokoro' Aderounmu. It shows the difficult life of a wandering artist who is homeless and poor.

Cyprian Ekwensi received awards for his writing. In 1968, he won the Dag Hammarskjöld International Prize in Literature. In 2001, he was given the MFR award in Nigeria. In 2006, he became a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters.

His Passing

Cyprian Ekwensi passed away on November 4, 2007. He died at the Niger Foundation in Enugu after an operation. The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) had planned to give him an award. After his death, they changed it to a special award given after someone has passed away.

Some of His Books

• When Love Whispers (1948)
• An African Night's Entertainment (1948)
• The Drummer Boy (1960)
• The Passport of Mallam Ilia (1960)
• Jagua Nana (1961)
• Burning Grass (1961)
• Beautiful Feathers (1963)
• Lokotown and Other Stories (1966)
• Divided We Stand: a Novel of the Nigerian Civil War (1980)
• Motherless Baby (1980)
• Jagua Nana's Daughter (1987)
• Masquerade Time (1994) - a children's book

See also

In Spanish: Cyprian Ekwensi para niños