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Nnedi Okorafor

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Also known as Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu, Nnedimma Nkemdili Okorafor, Nnedi Okafor

Nigerian-American writer of fantasy, science fiction, and comics (born 1974)

Key facts

Born
Nnedimma Nkemdili Okorafor , ( 1974-04-08 ) April 8, 1974 (age 52) , Cincinnati, Ohio , U.S.
Occupation
Writer, professor
Education
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign ( BA ) Michigan State University ( MA ) University of Illinois, Chicago (MA, PhD )
Genres
Science fiction , Africanfuturism , fantasy , Africanjujuism , solarpunk
Notable awards
Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa World Fantasy Award for Best Novel Nebula Award for Best Novella Hugo Award for Best Novella Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album – Reprint Lodestar Award Locus Award for Best Young Adult Novel Carl Brandon Parallax Award

via Wikipedia infobox

Described at

Media Kit – Nnedi Okorafor

nnedi.com →

Nnedi Okorafor is the global leader of Africanfuturism, a New York Times bestselling author, and an international literary superstar. She writes speculative fiction for adults, young adults, and children. Her latest adult novel, Death of the Author —which George R.R. Martin calls “her best work yet”—explores fame, the Nigerian Diaspora, disability, the writer’s life, AI and robots. Her all-ages graphic novel called The Space Cat was published in 2025, as well. And the final installment of her She Who Knows trilogy, The Daughter Who Remains, is scheduled for release in 2026 .Among her many acclaimed works are the groundbreaking Binti trilogy, the harrowing Who Fears Death , and the beloved Nsibidi Scripts series, all of which have been optioned for the screen. Nnedi is also the author of Marvel’s Black Panther: Long Live the King , Shuri , and Wakanda Forever . One of the most lauded writers in modern science fiction and fantasy, her honors include the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature, Nebula, World Fantasy, Locus, Eisner, and multiple Hugo and Lodestar Awards. Born in the United States to Nigerian/Igbo immigrant parents, Nnedi draws deeply from African cultures to create captivating worlds, unforgettable characters, and powerful, evocative stories. She holds a PhD in Literature and two Master’s degrees in Journalism and Literature. Nnedi Okorafor is an award-winning New York Times Bestselling writer of science fiction and fantasy for both children and adults. The more specific terms for her works are africanfuturism and africanjujuism.

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Wikidata facts

Instance of
human
Gender
female
Citizenship
Nigeria
Place of birth
Cincinnati
Languages spoken
English language
Field of work
creative writing
Genre
fantasy
Official website
nnedi.com
Image
Nnedi Okorafor at National Book Festival 2025.jpg
Work location
Chicago
Show 11 more facts
date of birth
1974-04-08
ethnic group
Igbo people
press information URL
nnedi.com/media-kit
social media followers
4219
described at URL
nnedi.com/media-kit
contact page URL
nnedi.com/contact
Commons category
Nnedi Okorafor
influenced by
Nawal El Saadawi
official blog URL
nnedi.blogspot.com
Sources (15)

via Wikidata · CC0

~20 min read

Encyclopedic overview

Nnedimma Nkemdili Listen"Nnedi" Okorafor (formerly Okorafor-Mbachu; born April 8, 1974) is a Nigerian American writer of science fiction and fantasy for both children and adults. She is best known for her Binti Series and her novels Who Fears Death, Zahrah the Windseeker, Akata Witch, Akata Warrior, Lagoon and Remote Control. She has also written for comics and film.

Her writing is Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism, both terms she coined and is heavily influenced by her dual Nigerian and American heritage. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Eisner Award and World Fantasy Award. She is considered to be among the third generation of Nigerian writers. Okorafor was inducted by the Museum of Pop Culture into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2024.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Nnedi Okorafor” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.