Okorafor offers inspiring exploration of identity at SFAL

January 25, 2025 / 3:55 PM

Sharjah24: inaugural Sharjah Festival of African Literature (SFAL), taking place under the theme “The Tale of Africa,” hosted a Book Talk session on the opening day with celebrated Nigerian-American author Nnedi Okorafor. The session, moderated by journalist Abdulkareem Baba-Aminu, explored Okorafor’s latest work, Death of the Author, offering a thought-provoking dialogue on the interplay of storytelling, identity, and cultural heritage.

Okorafor’s Genre-Fluid Exploration

Nnedi Okorafor describes her experimental novel as “genre-fluid,” blending Nigerian-American family sagas with bold narratives and a personal exploration of storytelling’s transformative power. As a multiple award-winning and New York Times bestselling author, she has made significant contributions to both science fiction and fantasy for children and adults.

The novel, which Okorafor considers her “most autobiographical” work, centers on Zelu, a Nigerian-American adjunct professor. Zelu's rejection by society and family reflects the struggles faced by many creatives of African descent. Okorafor stated, “Through this story, I wanted to explore not just the Nigerian-American experience, but the power and joy of storytelling itself, a gift that’s uniquely human.”

Subversive Title

The title of the novel draws inspiration from Roland Barthes’ famous essay and is intentionally subversive. “I’m turning this concept on its head,” she explained, noting that it signifies multiple themes within the plot, including loss, transformation, and the idea of stories outliving their authors.

Navigating Cultural Identities

In a recent session, Okorafor discussed the complexities of navigating multiple cultural identities in literature. Drawing from her own experiences of growing up in the U.S. with Nigerian parents, she emphasized the importance of maintaining strong ties to heritage. “Writing about my Nigerian Americanness— the conflict, the beauty, and the joy— led me to speculative fiction,” she shared.

Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism

Known for coining the terms Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism, Okorafor incorporates her dual Nigerian-American heritage into her narratives. “When I began writing, I wanted to see Africa in the future, reflecting the richness I observed during visits to Nigeria,” she noted.

The journey of this novel has been remarkable. It sparked a bidding war among major publishers, resulting in a seven-figure advance and widespread acclaim. “This book broke all the rules because it knows them, and it chose to break them,” Okorafor remarked. She added that the reception has been validating and deeply personal.

Future Projects

Okorafor's other successes are equally impressive. Her book Lagoon is currently being adapted for film by renowned director Steven Spielberg. “I'm writing the script for that, which is really exciting. Apparently, Steven Spielberg loved the book, which is so cool,” she shared.

The event also celebrates the continent’s storytelling legacy, bringing together distinguished voices, including Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah and 29 other prominent guests from the UAE and ten African nations.