There is a frenzy that has been fleeting around the Man Booker Nominee Chigozie Obioma since his nomination was announced. Apparently, the young fellow doesn't seem to be finding his new found prominence an easy task. His recent provocation was when a Brittle Paper writer Nmadiuto Uche, read it HERE. But Mr Obioma did not find it supportive and commented that the blog is running a “smear campaign” and pushing an agenda to “tear” him down.
Here is the part of the comment that captures his concerns the most:
I have been appalled by interactions with Africans. I have received so many nasty mails, some so ridiculous that I had to disable the direct author contact link on my website. Various other “African writers” have engaged me in ways that approximate to hatred, some form of angst about what they believe is an unfair auspicious reception of my book. This has come from Africans—the very people I call my own. These smear campaigns, these vicious commentaries, these mean messages. I am not surprised, though. Where other people succeed in propping others up and basking in the success of the other, the African rejoices—or feels elevated—in tearing others down. It is why, from North to South, East to West, what you have is a continent failed states. Every one thinks for themselves, hence, that sense of community, of bettering yourself by raising others, is non-existent.The owner of Brittle Paper Ainehi Edoro, wrote an article to clarify his concerns and to once more put in the word that the blog stands for the ultimate African Literary standards and that they are all rooting for him to win.
Read the article Here.
We all are standing for him to win the ManBooker Prize. After all, he is our very own Chigozie Obioma.
Photo credit: Ronex Ahimbisibwe via African Digital Art
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