Pius Adesanmi facts for kids

Pius Adebola Adesanmi (born February 27, 1972 – died March 10, 2019) was a talented professor, writer, and critic from Nigeria who also became a Canadian citizen. He was known for his clever and funny writings, especially his book Naija No Dey Carry Last. Sadly, he passed away in a plane crash in Ethiopia in 2019.

About Pius Adesanmi

Pius Adesanmi was born on February 27, 1972, in Isanlu, a town in Kogi State, Nigeria. He loved learning and studied French language at the University of Ilorin. He earned his first degree there in 1992.

He continued his studies, getting a Master's degree in French from the University of Ibadan in 1998. Later, he moved to Canada and earned a PhD in French Studies from the University of British Columbia in 2002.

His Academic Career

Before becoming a professor, Adesanmi was a special researcher. He was a Fellow at the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA) from 1993 to 1997. He also worked with the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) in 1998 and 2000.

From 2002 to 2005, he taught at the Pennsylvania State University in the USA. In 2006, he joined Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. There, he became a Professor of literature and African studies. He also led the university's Institute of African Studies until his death.

His Writings and Columns

Pius Adesanmi was a regular writer for Premium Times and Sahara Reporters. He wrote many articles that were often funny and sharp. His style was called satire. Satire uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize people's mistakes or foolishness.

He often wrote about social and political issues in Nigeria. He would comment on politicians and other public figures. His writings made people think and discuss important topics.

In 2015, he gave a famous TED talk. It was titled "Africa is the forward that the world needs to face." In this talk, he shared his ideas about Africa's future.

His Final Journey

Pius Adesanmi died on March 10, 2019. He was on his way to an African Union conference. The plane, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, crashed shortly after taking off from Addis Ababa to Nairobi.

After his death, many writers honored him. They published a collection of 267 poems called "Wreaths for a Wayfarer." This book was named after Pius's first book, "The Wayfarer and Other Poems."

Books by Pius Adesanmi

Pius Adesanmi wrote several important books during his life:

• The Wayfarer and Other Poems (2001)
• You're Not a Country, Africa (2011)
• Naija No Dey Carry Last (2015)
• Who Owns the Problem? Africa and the Struggle for Agency (2020)

Awards and Recognition

Pius Adesanmi received several awards for his excellent work:

• In 2001, his first book of poems, The Wayfarer and Other Poems, won the Association of Nigerian Authors' Poetry Prize.
• In 2010, his collection of essays, You're not a Country, Africa, won the first-ever Penguin Prize for African Writing in the nonfiction category.
• In 2017, he was given the Canada Bureau of International Education Leadership Award.

See also

In Spanish: Pius Adesanmi para niños