With its dual release in English and Igbo languages, the book aims to reach a wider audience and inspire young readers to embrace the richness of their native language.
By Helena Olori
US-based Nigerian writer, Chika Unigwe, has announced the release of her latest work, Obioma, an inspiring picture book for young readers, published in the English and Igbo language.
The book, illustrated by Chinyere Okoroafor (Alone at the Crossroads, 2017), is published by Cassava Republic, an Abuja-based publisher dedicated to delivering high-quality fiction and non-fiction for a diverse global readership.
This comes shortly after Unigwe’s fiction novel, The Middle Daughter, published earlier this year by Dzanc Books, was longlisted by Fall for the Book for the 6th New American Voices Award, a post-publication book prize recognising the work of first-generation American writers.
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Obioma follows the story of Obioma, a feisty eight-year-old disabled football star who uses a special stick to score goals and never loses a race in her wheelchair.
However, her life takes a new turn when she moves to a new city and finds herself in an unfriendly school environment where she struggles to make friends, and everyone calls her “the girl with the wheelchair.” Obioma misses playing football most of all. That changes when she meets a girl, Ayana, who invites her to play football. As they bond over the game, others join in, and Obioma finds a supportive team that embraces her for who she truly is.
With its dual release in English and Igbo languages, the book aims to reach a wider audience and inspire young readers to embrace the richness of their native language.
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Chika Unigwe is a celebrated author best known for her four acclaimed novels. Her most notable work, On Black Sisters’ Street (Jonathan Cape, 2009), earned her the prestigious $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2012.
She was selected as one of the Africa39 list in 2014. In recognition of her exceptional talent, Unigwe was appointed as the Bonderman Professor for Creative Writing at Brown University in Rhode Island in 2016, and was judge of the Man Booker International Prize in 2017. She has also written numerous short stories and essays including the collection, Better Never Than Late (Cassava Republic, 2019).
Her new book, Obioma, is now available for order on Cassava Republic online store.