Akwaeke Emezi

Akwaeke Emezi (born June 6, 1987, in Umuahia, Abia, Nigeria) is a Nigerian novelist, poet, and visual artist recognized for their distinctive contributions to contemporary literature, particularly within the fantasy, speculative fiction, and romance genres. Emezi's work frequently explores themes of identity, spirituality, gender, and the body, drawing heavily on Nigerian cosmology.Early Life and Education Akwaeke Emezi was born in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria, in 1987. They are of Igbo and Malaysian heritage. Emezi pursued higher education in the United States, earning two advanced degrees. In 2014, they enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) creative fiction writing program at Syracuse University, where they began drafting their debut novel, *Freshwater*. Emezi also attended Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Farafina Trust Creative Writing Workshop in Lagos State, Nigeria. They hold a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from New York University.Career Progression and Notable Works Emezi's professional writing career began around 2017. They signed a two-book deal with Riverhead Books, launching a prolific period of output across multiple genres. Their critically acclaimed adult debut novel, *Freshwater* (2018), was shortlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize and was an honoree on the National Book Foundation's "5 Under 35" list. Emezi expanded their work into Young Adult (YA) literature with *Pet* (2019), which explores themes of justice and monstrousness. *Pet* received significant recognition, including the Walter Dean Myers Award. Their 2020 novel, *The Death of Vivek Oji*, became a *New York Times* bestseller and garnered several accolades, including a nomination for the International Dublin Literary Award and a Goodreads Choice Award win. In 2022, Emezi published their memoir, *Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir*, and their romance novel, *You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty*. The memoir won a Lambda Literary Award, and the romance novel won a Goodreads Choice Award in the Romance category. Emezi's debut poetry collection, *Content Warning: Everything*, was also released in 2022.Major Achievements and Current Status Akwaeke Emezi is active in the literary world as a novelist, poet, and visual artist. Their work is characterized by its genre-bending nature and engagement with complex subject matter, establishing them as a prominent voice in contemporary literature since 2017. Their scheduled notable future works include the novels *Little Rot* (2024) and *SON OF THE MORNING* (2025).