News, Commentary & Social Media from African Perspective

CYPRIAN EKWENSI (1921 – 2007): Fare Thee Well

11 comments

Posted by: Omotaylor on November 6, 2007 Under: Arts & Entertainment, Discussion Lounge, Literature, Nigeria



cekwensi.jpgThe news of the death of this well loved, popular and prolific Nigerian Fictional Writer/Poet, Cyprian Ekwensi on Sunday 4th November 2007 hit me hard. Although Daddy Ekwensi died at the ripe age of 86, I was really shocked for he was a man I loved ever so dearly, right from my childhood. I used to call him “2nd dad” for he was born the same year as my biological father and had this gentle and calm exterior to him (very much like my dad’s).

Cyprian Odiatu Duaka Ekwensi was born on 26th September 1921 at Minna in Niger State, Nigeria and was a man of many talents who studied in the North of Nigeria, Ibadan, Gold Coast (Ghana) and Britain. Although he studied Pharmacy and also was a Science teacher for years, Daddy Ekwensi was also a Forestry Officer and later worked for years with the media – Radio Nigeria. He was also an adviser to the Biafran Head of State – Odumegwu Ojukwu in the Biafran days.

Cyprian Ekwensi was most popularly known for his numerous writings especially of fiction and short stories. He wrote for the young and old and his books and stories are based on the Nigerian Life. One distinct mark of his books is that the reader could feel, sense and take in the Nigerian setting, culture, mood and tone of his writings. A clear mark of his writings also is the uncomplicated and easy to understand use of English in his writings.

Amongst the book written by Cyprian Ekwensi are these favorites of mine:
Burning Grass – My most favored with the witty but deep story of Mai Sunsaye and His Sons.
Jagua Nana - This book is the Most Widely read of Cyprian’s novels
Rainmaker
Drummer Boy
An African Nights Entertainment - This was my literary bible while I was in secondary school with its collection of short stories. If a book were to be judged by its cover, this book with its high quality purple and pink (i think) cover was a student’s companion in my school days.

Daddy Cyprian Ekwensi died at the Niger Foundation Enugu and was survived by his wife, 5 children and many grandchildren. Amongst his many accolades was his receipt of an International Award for Literary Merit in 1968.

May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

You will be well missed by many in Nigeria and worldwide for your writings touched many lives.

For more visit this link: http://odili.net/news/source/2007/nov/5/6.html

Adieu Daddy Ekwensi.

Image credit: Basil Okafor

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11 comment(s)

  1. pamela | Nov 6, 2007 | Reply

    May his soul rest in perfect peace!! I read all those books growing up.

    I remember my mother’s copy of the burning grass – it was a little book (well, little to me) with a picture of a rural setting on its front covers.

    He lived a great life – May his soul rest in perfect peace,

    pammy

  2. zibby | Nov 6, 2007 | Reply

    may your soul rest in peace.you have been an inspiration to millions,God less your family
    i love you

  3. ezinne nwoga | Nov 7, 2007 | Reply

    He was a mentor and a gem to the literary world. We surely do miss you

  4. Omotaylor | Nov 7, 2007 | Reply

    Whenever I look at the above image of Daddy Ekwensi, my face lights up in a loving smile and my heart warms up. Even in death, you still bring happiness to my gloom. May the Good Lord grant you eternal rest, for you remind me of an angel. Cant wait to get to Nigeria to search for all your books for I want to collect them all.

  5. Kenyan Poet | Nov 23, 2007 | Reply

    Hallo Omotaylor,

    Thank you for the wonderful tribute to a great writer. I am based in Kenya, and have read most of his works published by East African Publishers. I am interested in doing an article on the late Cyprian Ekwensi on my blog and would like to contact his close relatives if possible.Your kind assistance will be highly appreciated.
    Warm regards,

  6. Omotaylor | Nov 23, 2007 | Reply

    @Kenyan Poet, thanks for your appreciation. I am not in any way related or have any connections to any relative of Daddy Ekwensi. Nevertheless, one good thing about African Loft is that if any reader or author is able to help, they will comment on this. Caretaker could also assist your enquiry. in the meantime I will ask around, and if any positive answer, i will send you this via African Loft. Have you tried to Google the name Ekwensi, you may find relatives mentioned. Good luck.

  7. Omotaylor | Dec 10, 2007 | Reply

    This excerpt is from Daily Sun 10th Dec 07 curtesy of http://www.gamji.com:

    Cyprian Ekwensi goes home Jan 4
    By SEGUN AJAYI
    Monday, December 10, 2007

    The remains of the foremost writer and doyen of Nigerian novels, Chief Cyprian Ekwensi who died on Sunday, November 4, at 86, will be laid to rest on January 4, 2008, in his home town in Nkwelle Ezunaka, Enugu State, South East of Nigeria.

    According to the programme signed by Mr. Goerge Ekwensi, on behalf of the family, the novelist’s final journey home will commence on January 2 with a holy mass and songs of praise at Hillview Crescent, Independent Layout, Enugu, followed by a funeral mass at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, also in Enugu, the following day.

  8. Omotaylor | Jan 2, 2008 | Reply

    Today commences the 3-day funeral celebrations for our dearly departed, beloved and insprired father and grandfather of almost all Nigerians, Daddy Cyprian Ekwensi. Let us all remember to pray for his family and pray that nothing mares the funeral rites. May his dearly departed soul Rest In Peace.

    African Loft joins Nigerians and others worldwide to say FARE THEE WELL DADDY EKWENSI.

  9. NWANGWU | Jan 10, 2008 | Reply

    yeah, Cheif Cyprian Ekwensi, we both came from the same village, he was a great man to the world and not to the village cos no man in our village benefited from his greatness as he is been praised by men outside the village, in fact there are still people in our village who don’t even know that this great man is from our village called IFITE/ NKWELLE EZUNAKA . Just imagine that. Any way may his gently and intellectual soul rest in peace. AMEN.

  10. Omotaylor | Jan 10, 2008 | Reply

    Good on you Nwangwu. May we all be remembered for good when we depart from this sinful world (in decades of years to come), amen

  11. NWANGWU | Jan 11, 2008 | Reply

    Thanks Omotaylor, may it be well with you too, the good ones must surely be missed and remembered when he or she must have gone to answer the call of nature.

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