• Feb. 21, 2017
     
    USC High School hosts Nigerian author
     
     

    Okey Ndibe Upper St. Clair High School students had the opportunity to participate in a writers’ workshop and hear about the experiences of Nigerian novelist, political columnist and essayist Okey Ndibe on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

    Mr. Ndibe is the author of three novels: “Never Look an American in the Eye: A Memoir of Flying Turtles, Colonial Ghosts, and the Making of a Nigerian American,” “Foreign Gods, Inc.,” and “Arrows of Rain.” In addition, he co-edited the book, “Writers Writing on Conflicts and Wars in Africa,” a collection of testimonials by writers and scholars who have experienced or explored Africa’s conflicts and how those disruptions affect artistic and literary production.

    “Foreign Gods, Inc.” was named one of the 10 best books of 2014 by Janet Maslin of The New York Times and listed among National Public Radio’s best books of 2014.

    “Having an opportunity to hear such an esteemed writer from Nigeria gives our students better global awareness as well as access to the craft of writing from an international professional,” Tanya Chothani, International Baccalaureate Diploma Program coordinator and resource center coordinator, said. “Mr. Ndibe is a dynamic speaker and excellent writer!”

    Dr. Ndibe immigrated to the United States in 1988 to serve as the founding editor of African Commentary, an international magazine published by renowned Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe.

    A graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Dr. Ndibe holds a master’s of fine arts in writing and a doctorate in literature. He has served as a faculty member at several colleges and universities including Brown University, Trinity College, Simon’s Rock College, Connecticut College and the University of Lagos, as a Fulbright Scholar.

    Mr. Ndibe is currently a writer in residence at the City of Asylum, a nonprofit community of writers located in Pittsburgh’s North Side neighborhood.

    “City of Asylum spoke with our students as part of our high school International Education Week in December 2016,” Mrs. Chothani said. “We are excited to continue this partnership.”