Christopher Abani (or Chris Abani) (born December 27, 1966) is a Nigerian author. Abani's first novel, Masters of the Board, was about a Neo-Nazi takeover of Nigeria. The book earned one reviewer to praise Abani as "Africa's answer to Frederick Forsyth."[1] The Nigerian government, however, believed the book to be a blueprint for an actual coup, and sent the 18-year-old Abani to prison in 1985.[2] After serving six months in jail, he was released, but he went on to perform in a guerilla theatre group. This action led to his arrest and imprisonment at Kiri Kiri, a notorious prison.[3] He was released again, but after writing his play Song of a Broken Flute he was arrested for a third time, sentenced to death, and sent to the Kalakuta Prison, where he was jailed with other political prisoners and inmates on death row.[4] His father is Igbo, while his mother was English born.[5]

He spent some of his prison time in solitary confinement, but was freed in 1991.[2] He lived in exile in London until a friend was murdered there in 1999; he then fled to the United States.[2]

He is a Professor at the University of California, Riverside and the recipient of the PEN USA Freedom-to-Write Award, the 2001 Prince Claus Awards, a Lannan Literary Fellowship, a California Book Award, a Hurston-Wright Legacy Award and the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award. Selections of his poetry appear in the online journal Blackbird.

His most recent book of poetry, Sanctificum (Copper Canyon Press, 2010), is a book-length sequence of linked poems, bringing together religious ritual, the Igbo language of his Nigerian homeland, and reggae rhythms in a postracial, liturgical love song.[6]

Chris was recently hospitalized in Los Angeles for food poisoning, on the same day he was scheduled to speak at the Central Library in that city.

Published works

Novels

    * The Virgin of Flames (Penguin, 2007)4
    * GraceLand (FSG, 2004/Picador 2005)
    * Masters of the Board (Delta, 1985)

Novellas

    * Becoming Abigail (Akashic Books, 2006)
    * Song For Night (Akashic Books, 2007)

Poetry

    * Sanctificum (Copper Canyon Press, 2010)
    * Hands Washing Water (Copper Canyon Press, 2006)
    * Dog Woman (Red Hen Press, 2004)
    * Daphne's Lot (Red Hen Press, 2003)
    * Kalakuta Republic (Saqi, 2001).

Honors and awards

2009

    * Guggenheim Fellow in Fiction

2008

    * Winner, PEN Beyond the Margins Award for Song For Night.
    * Nominated for Lamada Award (the Virgin of Flames)
    * Recipient, Distinguished Humanist Award (UC, Riverside)
    * 2007 Pushcart Nomination for Sanctificum. (poetry)

2007

    * New York Times Editor's Choice (Song for Night)
    * Finalist, PEN Beyond the Margins Award (Becoming Abigail)
    * A Barnes and Noble Discovery Selection (The Virgin of Flames)
    * A New York Times Editor's Choice (The Virgin of Flames)
    * A New York Libraries Books For Teens Selection (Becoming Abigail)

2006

    * A New York Times Editor's Choice (Becoming Abigail)
    * A Chicago Reader Critic's Choice (Becoming Abigail)
    * A selection of the Essence Magazine Book Club (Becoming Abigail)
    * A selection of the Black Expressions Book Club (Becoming Abigail)
    * Pushcart Nomination (poetry) (A Way To Turn This To Light)
    * Shortlisted for International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award (GraceLand).

2005

    * Winner, Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award. (GraceLand)
    * Winner, Hurston-Wright Legacy Award (GraceLand)
    * Silver Medal, California Book Award for Fiction (GraceLand)
    * Finalist, Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction. (GraceLand)
    * Finalist, Commonwealth Writers Prize, Best Books (Africa Region)(GraceLand)
    * Pushcart Nomination for Blooding. StoryQuarterly.

2003

    * Lannan Foundation Literary Fellowship, USA
    * Hellman/Hammet Grant from Human Rights Watch, USA.

2002

    * Imbongi Yesizwe Poetry International Award, South Africa.

2001

    * PEN USA West Freedom-to-Write Award, USA.
    * Prince Claus Awards.
    * Middleton Fellowship, University of Southern California, USA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Abani

This was one of the genuine, yet noiseless, fighters for democracy for Nigeria.

Bio:

http://www.chrisabani.com/Abani_Bio/Chris_Abani_Bio.htm

I bought that "Graceland" book a few years ago, but didn't have time to  finish it.  The book cover is unforgettable - a pre-adolescent boy smoking a cigarette.

I love this guy so much we went to see him in Malibu at a book reading and we were the only Nigerians in a room full of Oyibo why dont Nigerians know this guy?