Ben is a poet and novelist. He was born in 1959 in Minna, northern Nigeria, to an Igbo mother and Urhobo father, but now lives in London.
He has published 11 books, including The Famished Road, as well as collections of poetry and essays. His latest book, Starbook, was published by Ebury Press in August, 2007.
Ben is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and in 2000 was awarded the OBE. Translated into more than 20 languages, Ben has been awarded numerous international prizes including the Booker Prize in 1991, the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Africa, the Aga Kahn Prize for Fiction, and was presented with a Crystal Award by the World Economic Forum.
Who I'd like to meet: Those who are interested in the alchemy of life.
Praise for Starbook
"Starbook’s language is so intensely lyrical it reads like a shaman’s incantation."
Melissa McLements, Financial Times
"The basic premise of the novel is a simple one: boy meets girl, tries to find ways to woo her, fights off a rival and travels with her into eternity. But this most simple of plots belies the extraordinary messages and hidden meanings waiting to be extracted from Okri's text...a profound philosophical meditation upon the transience of life and the desperate need that human beings have to achieve immortality by creating great masterpieces....this book pushes the experience of reading far beyond any usual boundaries....profoundly passionate, moving and intense" Scotland on Sunday
"Okri's is an art that sometimes communicates before it is understood. It echoes the Bible in its conundrums. It rhymes like Shakespeare in its couplets. It often evokes Judaism's Book of Life. And like the New Testament, it advocates that salvation stems from pure love. Its narrator cautions against our immediate understanding. Understanding may stop you from seeing, he suggests. To find "that which is truer" we must first be prepared to abandon that which we cling to, that which blinds us."
Tom Adair, The Scotsman
Modupe for the add. I'm just finishing Dangerous Love, Omovo's evolution has far reaching implications into soul culture. Beautiful, I'm such a fan!! I'd love to hear a discussion on Astonishing the Gods one day, such a little talked about exploration. Tutuola anyone, lol Thanks
Hi, my name is Kaisha Cunningham and I'm in the 11th grade. My classmate, Nina, and I are doing a project on one of your poems, "And If You Should Leave Me", and I was just thinking how beneficial it may prove if we had a more recent quote adressed to us to use during our presentation. I think you are a very inspirational writer and I admire your quality of poetry :) Thank you for your time, Best Wishes, Kaisha Cunningham
Hi Ben I hope things are good with you. Just thought my latest piece would go well with the colour scheme on your page....it's another kid from the DRC. Peace & Love Robbie x
Ben yes roots! reading dangerous love right now... almost finished, and loving every paragraph, idren. creation rebel, create rebelliously love wrecklessly Infinite Unity Infinitebless jbee
