Adaobi Tricia Obinne Nwaubani is a Nigerian novelist, journalist, essayist, and consultant renowned for her distinctive voice in African literature. Known for blending humor with serious social commentary, she is one of the most recognizable female writers from Nigeria in the 21st century. With award-winning works of fiction and journalism, Nwaubani has carved out a space for herself as a bold and thoughtful storyteller unafraid to challenge narratives.
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Early Life and Background
Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani was born on March 28, 1976, in Enugu, Nigeria, to Chief Chukwuma Hope Nwaubani and Dame Patricia Uberife Nwaubani. She was raised in Umuahia, Abia State, among the Igbo people. Her lineage is rooted in Nigeria’s traditional leadership system—her great-grandfather, Chief Nwaubani Ogogo Oriaku, was a prominent chief and licensed trader with the Royal Niger Company in the 19th century. Notably, her family history includes involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, a fact she has publicly acknowledged in her writings, particularly in her essay, “My Great-Grandfather, the Nigerian Slave Trader” published in The New Yorker.
Education
Nwaubani attended Federal Government Girls’ College, Owerri, Imo State, from the age of ten. She later studied Psychology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier university. During her university years, she was a member of the Idia Hall Chess Team and sang in the classical music choir. She began writing early and earned her first income at the age of 13 by winning a writing competition.
Influences and Literary Style
As a teenager, Adaobi secretly fantasized about becoming a CIA or KGB agent, a reflection of her early curiosity and adventurous mind. She has expressed dissatisfaction with the typically somber tone of African literature and instead prefers to blend seriousness with humor. She credits Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes for showing her how to tackle weighty issues with a light touch. She also cites P.G. Wodehouse, the British humorist, as one of her literary idols.
Nwaubani’s style is characterized by its sharp wit, bold characters, and unflinching exploration of moral and social dilemmas. Her writing addresses subjects such as poverty, corruption, culture, and historical injustice—often from unique and personal perspectives.
Career and Works
Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani began her professional writing career as part of the pioneer editorial team of the now-defunct NEXT Newspaper, founded by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dele Olojede. Her first novel, I Do Not Come to You by Chance, was published in 2009 and received critical acclaim for its satirical and poignant look into the world of email scams in Nigeria. It tells the story of a young man, Kingsley, who turns to his fraudster uncle in a desperate attempt to save his impoverished family. The novel was published in Nigeria in 2019 by Masobe Books.
In 2018, she released Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree, a novel based on interviews with young girls who survived captivity under Boko Haram. The book received widespread praise for its sensitive portrayal of trauma, faith, and resilience.
Awards and Recognition
Nwaubani’s work has earned her numerous local and international accolades, including:
- 2009: The Washington Post Best Books of the Year
- 2010: Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book (Africa)
- 2010: Betty Trask Award for Fiction
- 2010: Finalist, Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa
- 2012: Shortlisted for the Nigeria Prize for Literature
- 2018: Recipient of the Raven Award of Excellence for Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree
- 2019: Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute Reporting Award
Her journalism, essays, and opinion pieces have appeared in major international outlets, including the BBC, The New Yorker, The Guardian, and Premium Times.
Personal Life
Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani currently lives in Abuja, Nigeria, where she works as a consultant in addition to her writing. She is also related to Flora Nwapa, Nigeria’s first female novelist to be published internationally—her mother is Flora’s cousin. This literary heritage adds yet another layer to her deep connection with Nigerian and African storytelling traditions.
Selected Works
- I Do Not Come to You By Chance (2009)
- Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree (2018)
Both works continue to be widely read and studied in schools and literary circles around the world.
Legacy
Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani stands out as a literary voice of courage, humor, and insight. Her ability to handle serious cultural and political issues with narrative grace and personal reflection makes her a powerful force in African literature and journalism. Through her work, she has contributed meaningfully to how Africa tells its stories—authentically, thoughtfully, and with a refreshing touch of wit.
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