Nuzo Onoh facts for kids

Nuzo Onoh (born September 22, 1962) is a talented Nigerian-British writer. She is known for her unique horror stories. Nuzo grew up as the third of eight children. Her mother was a headteacher, and her father was a well-known lawyer and politician. He was even a former governor of Anambra State in Nigeria.

When Nuzo was a child, she lived through the Biafran War (1967–70). She had to move often as a refugee in different villages. This experience made her want to help others. She now speaks out to raise awareness about the importance of protecting children in African communities.

On June 17, 2023, Nuzo Onoh received a very special honor. She won the 2022 Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement. This award celebrates writers whose work has greatly influenced the horror genre. It recognizes amazing achievements throughout a writer's entire career. Nuzo Onoh is the first African and Black-British person to ever win this prestigious award.

Education and Learning

Nuzo Onoh went to school in different places. She attended Queen's School in Enugu, Nigeria. Later, she studied at The Mount School, York, a Quaker boarding school in York, England. She also went to St Andrew's Tutorial College in Cambridge, England. Nuzo continued her education at Warwick University. There, she earned a law degree and a master's degree in writing.

Her Writing Journey

Nuzo Onoh is a pioneer in a new type of horror writing. It is called the African horror subgenre. Her books The Reluctant Dead (2014) and Unhallowed Graves (2015) are collections of ghost stories. These stories show important parts of Igbo culture, beliefs, and traditions. They mix these cultural elements with spooky horror themes.

She has written many other books, including:

• The Sleepless (2016)
• Dead Corpse (2017)
• The Unclean (2020)
• A Dance for the Dead (2022)
• Where the Dead Brides Gather (2024)

Nuzo's stories have appeared in various places. You can find her work in magazines, podcasts, and other story collections. She contributed to REVELATIONS: Horror Writers for Climate Action. Her stories are also in award-winning anthologies. These include Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction From Africa and the African Diaspora. This book won the British Fantasy Award in 2021. Another is Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction. It won the 2023 Locus Award for Best Anthology. Her work has also been featured in the science-fiction magazine Starburst. She is recognized in reference books like 80 Black Women in Horror (2017) and 160 Black Women in Horror (2023).

Nuzo Onoh's books have been recognized in many ways. They have been longlisted and shortlisted for awards. Her work is also studied in academic books. These include the Routledge Handbook of African Literature. She has talked about her writing on different media platforms. She often discusses African Horror as a unique type of story. Nuzo has also written blogs for Female First Magazine and Black Ballad magazine. She is seen as one of the British horror writers who are changing things. She helps show Black and minority characters in a positive way in horror stories.

Nuzo Onoh also gives talks and lectures. She has spoken at places like the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies.

Onoh often writes about African ghosts. These ghosts usually have important unfinished business. One journalist even called her the "Queen of African Horror." Her stories combine "magical realism and horror." They explore ideas that explain the reality of Africa and its people. Her writing shows both the beautiful and scary parts of African culture. She often focuses on the Igbo culture. Her stories touch on themes like unfair religious practices and difficult situations. They also explore old beliefs and the challenges faced by some people. Her book The Sleepless is a ghost story about the Biafran War. It has been called a "powerhouse of horror storytelling." It goes beyond simple magical realism. What makes her stories "African Horror" is how deeply they explore African beliefs. They look at mysterious and spiritual ideas. This helps readers understand the "African Self."

Her Family

Nuzo Onoh has two children. Her daughter, Candice Onyeama, is a writer and film director. Her son, Carmen Jija Gyoh, works as a Fintech Product Designer.