T. M. Aluko
Encyclopedia
Timothy Mofolorunso "T. M." Aluko (14 June 1918 – 1 May 2010) was a Nigeria
n writer.
A Yoruba
, Aluko was born in Ilesha in Nigeria and studied at Government College, Ibadan
, and Higher College, Yaba in Lagos
. He then studied civil engineering
and town planning at the University of London
. He held a number of administrative posts in his home country, including Director of Public Works in Western Nigeria. He departed from civil service in 1966 and from then until his retirement in 1978 he pursued a career as an academic, earning a doctorate in municipal engineering in 1976. He received several awards and honours including Officer Order of the British Empire
(OBE) in 1963 and Officer Order of the Niger (OON) in 1964.
His novels, including One Man, One Wife (1959), One Man, One Matchet (1964), '"Kinsman and Foreman" (1966), "Chief the Honourable Minister (1970) and His Worshipful Majesty (1973), are satirical
in tone, and deal with the clash of new and old values in a changing Africa.
In 1994, he published his autobiography, My Years of Service, an account of his activities as an engineer and university teacher.
His most current autobiography--The Story of My Life--expounds on the story of his childhood and his work as a civil servant. Published in 2007, this expanded autobiography provides a more in depth look at his life.
T. M. Aluko died on 1 May 2010 in Lagos
, aged 91.
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...
n writer.
A Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
, Aluko was born in Ilesha in Nigeria and studied at Government College, Ibadan
Ibadan
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...
, and Higher College, Yaba in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
. He then studied civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
and town planning at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. He held a number of administrative posts in his home country, including Director of Public Works in Western Nigeria. He departed from civil service in 1966 and from then until his retirement in 1978 he pursued a career as an academic, earning a doctorate in municipal engineering in 1976. He received several awards and honours including Officer Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) in 1963 and Officer Order of the Niger (OON) in 1964.
His novels, including One Man, One Wife (1959), One Man, One Matchet (1964), '"Kinsman and Foreman" (1966), "Chief the Honourable Minister (1970) and His Worshipful Majesty (1973), are satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
in tone, and deal with the clash of new and old values in a changing Africa.
In 1994, he published his autobiography, My Years of Service, an account of his activities as an engineer and university teacher.
His most current autobiography--The Story of My Life--expounds on the story of his childhood and his work as a civil servant. Published in 2007, this expanded autobiography provides a more in depth look at his life.
T. M. Aluko died on 1 May 2010 in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, aged 91.