Kole Omotosho
Encyclopedia
Bankole Ajibabi Omotosho (born April 21, 1943), is a Nigerian writer and intellectual known for his dedication and commitment to fusing a socio-political reappraisal of Africa
and respect for human dignity into most of his works.
family in Akure
, Ondo state
, Nigeria
. He was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents after the death of his father. Though the lack of a father figure could crush a young Nigerian boy, the events of his early childhood contributed a great deal to his development as a man and also as a writer. Omotosho was educated at King's College, Lagos
and the University of Ibadan
and then undertook a doctoral thesis on the modern Arabic writer Ahmad Ba Kathir at the University of Edinburgh
.
to lecture on Arabic studies (1972–1976), then moved to the University of Ife
to work in drama (1976–88). He became a writer for different magazines (including West Africa) in the ’70's and was well known among Nigeria's literate elites.His major themes include interracial marriage, comic aspects of the Biafran-Nigerian conflict
, and the human condition—as exemplified in friendship between the Yoruba and the Igbo
and in relationships between children and parents.
His 1988 historical novel about Nigeria, Just before Dawn (ISBN 9789782460073) was controversial and led Omotosho to leave his native country. After visiting professorships in English at the University of Stirling
and the National University of Lesotho
and a spell at the Tawala Theatre, London
, he became a professor of English at the University of the Western Cape
in South Africa
(1991–2000). From 2001 he has been a professor in the Drama Department at Stellenbosch University
. He has also appeared as the “Yebo Gogo man” in television advertisements for Vodacom
mobile phone
s. Omotosho is married with three children.
. However, with the ascent of social and political decay, a few years after independence, he became deeply interested in writing about fiction. Fiction was an avenue that exists apart from the decay of real life and where deep reconstructions about life and ideas come true. It was also an avenue to experiment on social and political ideas for societal change and advancement. Omotosho’s non-fiction is wide-ranging in subject matter.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and respect for human dignity into most of his works.
Early life and education
Kole Omotosho was born into a YorubaYoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
family in Akure
Akure
Akure is a city in the southwestern region of Nigeria, and is the largest city and capital of Ondo State. The city has a population of approximately 387,087...
, Ondo state
Ondo State
Ondo State, Nigeria was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was split off in 1996. Akure is the state capital.-Government and society:...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. He was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents after the death of his father. Though the lack of a father figure could crush a young Nigerian boy, the events of his early childhood contributed a great deal to his development as a man and also as a writer. Omotosho was educated at King's College, Lagos
King's College, Lagos
King's College, Lagos is a secondary school in Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. It was founded on 20 September 1909 with 10 students on its original site at Lagos Island, adjacent to Tafawa Balewa Square. The school admits male students only, although there were some female HSC students before the...
and the University of Ibadan
University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan is the oldest Nigerian university, and is located five miles from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria...
and then undertook a doctoral thesis on the modern Arabic writer Ahmad Ba Kathir at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
.
Later life
Omotosho returned to IbadanIbadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
to lecture on Arabic studies (1972–1976), then moved to the University of Ife
Obafemi Awolowo University
Obafemi Awolowo University is a government-owned and -operated Nigerian university. The university is in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria...
to work in drama (1976–88). He became a writer for different magazines (including West Africa) in the ’70's and was well known among Nigeria's literate elites.His major themes include interracial marriage, comic aspects of the Biafran-Nigerian conflict
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
, and the human condition—as exemplified in friendship between the Yoruba and the Igbo
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
and in relationships between children and parents.
His 1988 historical novel about Nigeria, Just before Dawn (ISBN 9789782460073) was controversial and led Omotosho to leave his native country. After visiting professorships in English at the University of Stirling
University of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
and the National University of Lesotho
National University of Lesotho
The National University of Lesotho is situated at Roma some 34 kilometers southeast of Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. The Roma valley is broad and is surrounded by a barrier of rugged mountains which provides magnificent scenery. The University enjoys a temperate climate with four distinctive...
and a spell at the Tawala Theatre, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he became a professor of English at the University of the Western Cape
University of the Western Cape
The University of the Western Cape is a public university located in the Bellville suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It was established in 1960 by the South African government as a university for Coloured people only...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(1991–2000). From 2001 he has been a professor in the Drama Department at Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University is a public research university situated in the town of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Other nearby universities are the University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape....
. He has also appeared as the “Yebo Gogo man” in television advertisements for Vodacom
Vodacom
Vodacom is a pan-African mobile telecommunications company, and was the 1st cellular network in South Africa. It provides GSM service to more than 35 million customers in South Africa, Tanzania, Lesotho, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Revenue for the year ended 31 March 2008...
mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
s. Omotosho is married with three children.
Themes
Omotosho grew up during the rising tide of radical nationalism and was enamored by the potential that lay in the future of his country. His fiction ranges widely over the human condition, and themes include intergenerational and interracial relationships. Fella's Choice is an early example of Nigerian detective fictionDetective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
. However, with the ascent of social and political decay, a few years after independence, he became deeply interested in writing about fiction. Fiction was an avenue that exists apart from the decay of real life and where deep reconstructions about life and ideas come true. It was also an avenue to experiment on social and political ideas for societal change and advancement. Omotosho’s non-fiction is wide-ranging in subject matter.
Fiction
- The Edifice (1971)
- The Combat (1972)
- Miracles (short stories) (1973)
- Fella's Choice (1974)
- Sacrifice (1974, 1978)
- The Scales (1976)
- To Borrow a Wandering Leaf (1978)
- Memories of Our Recent Boom (1982)
- Just Before Dawn (1988)
Non-fiction
- The Form of the African Novel (1979 etc.)
- The Theatrical Into Theatre: a study of the drama and theatre of the English-speaking Caribbean (1982)
- Season of Migration to the South: Africa's crises reconsidered (1994)
- Acehebe or Soyinka? a study in contrasts (1995)
- Woza Africa (1997)