- University of Nigeria, Nsukka
- Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) in Belgium
- University of Leiden in the Netherlands in 2004
Master of Arts degree in English
Ph.D. in Literature
Chika Nina Unigwe, born on June 12, 1974, in Enugu, Nigeria, is a distinguished Nigerian-born Igbo novelist renowned for her contributions to contemporary literature. Writing in both English and Dutch, she gained international acclaim for her novel On Black Sisters’ Street, which earned her the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2012. Her works often explore themes of migration, identity, and the African diaspora experience.
Table of Contents
Early Life and Education
Chika Unigwe was born as the sixth of seven children in Enugu, southeastern Nigeria. She attended Federal Government Girls’ College in Abuja for her secondary education. In 1995, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Pursuing further studies abroad, she earned a Master of Arts degree in English from the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) in Belgium in 1996. She later completed a Ph.D. in Literature at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands in 2004, with a dissertation titled “In the Shadow of Ala; Igbo Women’s Writing as an Act of Righting.” 1.
Personal Life
Unigwe married a Belgian engineer, and together they have four children. The family resided in Turnhout, Belgium, where she balanced her writing career with teaching Flemish to immigrants and serving on the Turnhout town council. In 2013, they relocated to the United States, settling in Atlanta, Georgia, where Unigwe continues her literary and academic pursuits. 2
Career
Novels and Short Stories
Unigwe’s literary career commenced with the publication of short stories in various anthologies and journals. Her debut novel, De Feniks (The Phoenix), was published in Dutch in 2005, marking her as the first Flemish author of African origin to publish a novel in Dutch. The narrative follows a Nigerian woman coping with a cancer diagnosis in a Belgian town.3
Her subsequent novel, Fata Morgana, released in Dutch in 2008 and later translated into English as On Black Sisters’ Street (2009), delves into the lives of African sex workers in Antwerp. This work garnered critical acclaim for its poignant portrayal of migration and exploitation, earning her the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2012, Africa’s largest literary prize valued at $100,000. 4
In 2012, she published Night Dancer, a novel set in Nigeria that examines themes of motherhood, tradition, and self-discovery. Her 2014 work, Black Messiah, is a fictionalized account of the life of Olaudah Equiano, an African abolitionist and writer. In 2019, she released Better Never Than Late, a collection of interconnected short stories about Nigerian immigrants in Belgium. Her most recent novel, The Middle Daughter (2023), reimagines the myth of Hades and Persephone, set between Enugu and Atlanta.
Academic and Literary Contributions
Unigwe has held several academic positions, including Bonderman Professor of Creative Writing at Brown University in 2016 and visiting professor at Emory University from 2017 to 2019. In July 2020, she was appointed as a professor of creative writing at Georgia College & State University.
She serves on the Board of Trustees for the pan-African literary initiative Writivism and established the Awele Creative Trust in Nigeria to support young writers. In 2014, she was selected for the Hay Festival’s Africa39 list, highlighting 39 Sub-Saharan African writers under 40 with the potential to shape future literary trends.
Awards and Recognitions
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2003: Won the BBC Short Story Competition and a Commonwealth Short Story Competition award.
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2004: Shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing.
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2012: Awarded the Nigeria Prize for Literature for On Black Sisters’ Street.
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2023: Knighted into the Order of the Crown by the Belgian government for her contributions to literature and services to the Belgian nation.
Controversies and Public Perception
As of the available information, Chika Unigwe has maintained a professional reputation free from public scandals or controversies. She is widely respected for her literary achievements and contributions to contemporary African literature.
Associations with Other Igbo Personalities
While specific collaborations with other notable Igbo individuals are not extensively documented, Unigwe’s work often intersects with themes pertinent to the Igbo community and the broader African diaspora. Her involvement in literary initiatives and festivals has connected her with various African writers and intellectuals.
Conclusion
Chika Unigwe’s journey from Enugu to international literary acclaim exemplifies her dedication to storytelling and the exploration of complex social issues. Her works continue to resonate with readers worldwide, offering nuanced perspectives on migration, identity, and womanhood.
References
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Chika Unigwe. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved February 23, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chika_Unigwe
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Chika Unigwe Bibliography. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2025, from https://www.cerep.ulg.ac.be/unigwe/cuintro.html
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Chika Unigwe. (n.d.). In Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries. Retrieved February 23, 2025, from https://zodml.org/discover-nigeria/people/chika-unigwe
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Chika Unigwe Knighted by Belgium’s Merit Award Order of the Crown. (2024, January 10). In Brittle Paper. Retrieved February 23,
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