1. Chief Cyprian Odiatu Duaka Ekwensi was a Nigerian author of novels, short stories, and children's books.
12 Facts About Cyprian Ekwensi
1. 2.
Cyprian Ekwensi is a native of Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi local government area, Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria.
3.
Cyprian Ekwensi's father was David Anadumaka, a storyteller and elephant hunter.
4.
Cyprian Ekwensi studied pharmacy at Yaba Technical Institute, Lagos School of Pharmacy, and the Chelsea School of Pharmacy of the University of London.
5.
Cyprian Ekwensi has many grandchildren, including his son Cyprian Ikechi Ekwensi, who is named after his grandfather, and his oldest grandchild Adrianne Tobechi Ekwensi.
6.
Cyprian Ekwensi was employed as Head of Features at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation and by the Ministry of Information during the First Republic; he eventually became Director of the latter.
7.
Cyprian Ekwensi resigned his position in 1966, before the Civil War, and defected to Enugu with his family.
8.
Cyprian Ekwensi later served as chair of the Bureau for External Publicity of Biafra, prior to its reabsorption by Nigeria.
9.
Cyprian Ekwensi wrote hundreds of short stories, radio and television scripts, and several dozen novels, including children's books.
10.
Cyprian Ekwensi's novel Drummer Boy, based on the life of Benjamin 'Kokoro' Aderounmu was a perceptive and powerful description of the wandering, homeless and poverty-stricken life of a street artist.
11.
Cyprian Ekwensi wrote a sequel to this, Jagua Nana's Daughter.
12.
Cyprian Ekwensi died on 4 November 2007 at the Niger Foundation in Enugu, where he underwent an operation for an undisclosed ailment.