Great African Reads discussion

Nigerian writer and poet Helon Habila is originally from Gombe.

Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

his website:
http://www.helonhabila.com/

and interview with him:
http://www.pw.org/content/everything_...

The interview is really good. His thoughts on writers and literature are very interesting. He doesn't seem to be a fan of Zakes Mda! lol

Thanks for setting up the page and links.
Yes, the interview is very interesting.

I first heard about Helon Habila in 2007 when TransAfrica sponsored an event that featured three writers that all had books recently released in 2007.

Measuring Time by Helon Habila
She's Gone by Kwame Dawes
The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu.

It was a very lively informative discussion and we (the audience) were excited to hear from three authors of color at once. I bought all three books and got them signed at the event.

I have had opportunities to meet these authors again but still remember my initial introduction to them.

When I learned that Helon Habila had a prior novel Waiting for an Angel and others had the event mentioned how much they enjoyed it, I turned to my friend and said why haven't you told me about this book - she said I thought you already knew about the book/author.

So many books not enough time.

I have also read Oil on Water: A Novel.

Lucky lady!

I have Oil on Water and a book Habila edited, but have not read Oil yet. I hope to change that this year!

I will find a more recent interview with him. I wonder if his views have changed at all. But I thought this interview was a nice introduction to him and Nigerian literature in general. I liked what he had to say about the Caine Prize because I can understand why it would be controversial.

Marieke wrote: "Lucky lady!

I have Oil on Water and a book Habila edited, but have not read Oil yet. I hope to change that this year!

I will find a more recent interview with him. I wonder if his views have chan..."

I would say that he is definitely that he is still interested in helping other authors get published.
He has been the editor of an anthology or two.

I recently read somewhere - that he is working with I forget who - on a publishing venture in Africa - that will publish genre (mystery) fiction by African writers.

I have been quite a fan of Helon Habila. I read most of his books. Waiting for an Angel is a collection of interconnected stories. I also liked Measuring Time very much as well as Oil on Water. You can read my reviews if you are interested. Helon Habila also edited a collection of African short stories, I think for Granta. An excellent overview of African short story writing.

That's the collection I have--the Granta one.

I very much enjoyed Oil on Water. It's a part of Nigerian history I hadn't read on and I think it should def be more publicised. I shall certainly explore his other novels.

Helon Habila is a 2015 Windham Campbell Prize Winner.

Winners were announced for the Windham Campbell Prizes, which "call attention to literary achievement and provide writers with the opportunity to focus on their work independent of financial concerns," the Bookseller reported, noting that the awards are worth $150,000 to each of the nine winners and "can be given for a body of work or extraordinary promise.

http://windhamcampbell.org/