Teju Cole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Teju Cole
|
|
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg)
Cole in 2013
|
|
| Born | Obayemi Babajide Adetokunbo Onafuwa June 27, 1975 Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S. |
| Occupation | Novelist, photographer |
| Education |
|
| Notable works | Open City (2011) |
Teju Cole (born June 27, 1975) is a talented Nigerian American writer, photographer, and art historian. He has written several books, including a short novel called Every Day Is for the Thief (2007) and a longer novel, Open City (2011). He also published an essay collection, Known and Strange Things (2016), and a photobook, Punto d'Ombra (2016). His second novel, Tremor, came out in 2023. Many people say his writing has created a new path in African literature.
Contents
About Teju Cole
Early Life and School
Teju Cole was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His parents were from Nigeria. He is the oldest of four children. Soon after he was born, Teju and his mother moved back to Lagos, Nigeria. His father joined them later.
When he was 17, Cole returned to the United States. He first attended Western Michigan University. Then he transferred to Kalamazoo College, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1996. After some time, he studied African art history in London. He also worked on a higher degree in art history at Columbia University. Today, he teaches creative writing at Harvard University. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
His Career as a Writer
Teju Cole has written or helped write many books. These include his short novel Every Day Is for the Thief and his novel Open City. He also wrote a collection of over 40 essays called Known and Strange Things. In 2016, he published a photobook, Punto d'Ombra, which was released in English in 2017 as Blind Spot. Famous writer Salman Rushdie has called Cole "among the most gifted writers of his generation."
Cole has also been a special writer-in-residence at places like Bard College and the Literaturhaus Zurich.
Every Day Is for the Thief
This was Cole's first novel, published in 2007. It tells the story of a young man who visits his home country, Nigeria. He had been away for fifteen years. The book feels like a travel diary. It describes life in the city of Lagos. It also shows how corruption can affect everyone, no matter their social standing.
Open City
Open City was written in 2011 and published in 2012. The story is about Julius, a young Nigerian immigrant. He is studying psychiatry in New York City. Julius often walks around Manhattan, thinking about things. The book mostly shares Julius's thoughts as he explores the city. He thinks about what he sees and past events.
Julius also spends a few weeks in Belgium. There, he meets interesting people. He often has long talks with them about ideas and world events. He seems to enjoy these conversations. When he returns to New York, he meets a young Nigerian woman. This meeting changes how he sees himself.
Open City has been translated into ten languages. Many book critics have praised it. The New Yorker called it a "beautiful, subtle, and, finally, original novel." The New York Times said the book's importance comes from its honesty. Time magazine described it as "a profoundly original work."
Known and Strange Things
In 2016, Cole released his first collection of essays. These essays cover various topics, including criticism. The poet Claudia Rankine wrote in the New York Times that it was an "essential and scintillating journey." She especially liked his essays on photography. She said they showed his great interest in and love for visual art.
Journalism and Social Commentary
Teju Cole writes for many well-known publications. These include The New York Times, Granta, and The New Yorker. He also wrote a monthly column for The New York Times Magazine called "On Photography." This column was recognized for an award in 2016.
Cole is known for talking about important social issues. He once wrote about how people from wealthy countries sometimes try to help others in a way that doesn't fully understand the local situation. This led to a discussion with a NY Times writer, Nicholas Kristof. Cole explained that he wanted people to think more deeply about why help is needed, not just offer help based on feelings.
In 2015, Cole was one of six writers who decided not to host an event for the PEN American Center. The event was honoring the French magazine Charlie Hebdo. Cole felt that some of the magazine's cartoons were unfair to certain groups. This sparked a debate about free speech and how different cultures see satire.
Photography Work
Teju Cole's photographs were shown in a special art show in Milan in 2016. It was called Punto d'ombra. The pictures from this show were later published in a book. The English version, released in 2017, was titled Blind Spot.
For a festival called Performa 17, Cole created an art piece called Black Paper (2017). It featured his photographs and videos. The artwork also included sounds and readings of his texts.
Using Social Media
Cole is also known for using social media, like Twitter and Instagram, in new and creative ways. He uses these platforms to share his thoughts and art.
Awards and Recognitions
Teju Cole has received many awards for his writing:
- 2011: Time magazine's "Best Books of the Year" for Open City
- 2012: PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel winner for Open City
- 2012: Shortlisted for the Ondaatje Prize for Open City
- 2013: International Literature Award for the German translation of Open City
- 2015: Windham–Campbell Literature Prize (Fiction), a major award
- 2018: Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship for Creative Arts
See also
In Spanish: Teju Cole para niños
