Ayo Sogunro
{{short description|Nigerian author, essayist and human rights lawyer}}
{{notability|Bio|date=September 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
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| name = Ayo Sogunro
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| image = Ayo Sogunro, author photo.jpg
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| birth_name = Ayọ̀délé Ọlọ́runfúnmi Sógunró
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| birth_place = Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
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| nationality = Nigerian
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| alma_mater = University of Lagos
| occupation = Lawyer, writer
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Ayo Sogunro (born 1984) is a Nigerian author, essayist and human rights lawyer. He is known for his work in social advocacy and for the protection of civil rights and the rights of sexual minorities in Nigeria. He was listed as one of the "100 Most Influential Nigerians" in 2017.{{Cite news|url=http://nwaward.com/2017/12/29/100-influential-nigerian-writers-40-2017-list/|title=100 MOST INFLUENTIAL NIGERIAN WRITERS UNDER 40. (2017 LIST) |date=29 December 2017|work=Nigerian Writers Awards|access-date=30 December 2017}}
Life and work
Sogunro was born in Abeokuta and attended the University of Lagos for his law degree. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2008.
His collection of short stories The Wonderful Life of Senator Boniface and other Sorry Tales{{cite web | last=Bagnetto | first=Laura Angela | title=Nigeria: A Glimpse Into the Lives of Lagosians | website=allAfrica.com | date=26 September 2017 | url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201709260404.html | access-date=16 December 2017}}[http://sarabamag.com/saraba-talk-with-ayobami-adebayo-ayo-sogunro/ "Saraba Talk with Ayobami Adebayo & Ayo Sogunro"], Saraba Magazine, 26 July 2016. was listed as one of the top 25 Nigerian books of 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.goodbooksafrica.com/2014/03/top-25-nigerian-books-in-2013.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507155940/http://www.goodbooksafrica.com/2014/03/top-25-nigerian-books-in-2013.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=7 May 2017|title=Top 25 Nigerian Books in 2013|website=goodbooksafrica.com|access-date=27 December 2017}} It is a collection of 14 stories about Nigerian and Nigerians, "full of sorry tales interfused with poetry, exploring themes of human nature in general, and Nigerian social psychology in particular"{{Cite news|url=http://www.pulse.ng/books/book-review-the-wonderful-life-of-senator-boniface-and-other-sorry-tales-review-id3801308.html|title=Book Review: The wonderful life of senator Boniface and other sorry tales [Review]|last=Quadri|first=Zainab|date=27 May 2015|access-date=12 February 2018}} The work has been described as a work that "brings to life – and death – the spirit of Lagos and Lagosians.{{Cite news|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201709260404.html|title=Nigeria: A Glimpse Into the Lives of Lagosians in Nigerian Ayo Sogunro's Short Story Collection|last=Bagnetto|first=Laura Angela|date=26 September 2017|publisher=Radio France Internationale|access-date=12 February 2018}}
In 2014, his collection of critical essays "Everything in Nigeria is Going to Kill You"{{cite web | last=Adeiye | first=Temitope | title=Ayo Sogunro: Social critic talks about Literature, LGBT rights, Nigerian government | website=Pulse | date=3 June 2016 | url=http://www.pulse.ng/books/ayo-sogunro-social-critic-talks-about-literature-lgbt-rights-nigerian-government-id5098325.html | access-date=16 December 2017}} was released. Its central idea is that Nigeria had evolved from "not taking care of you" into "actively trying to kill you".Ishola, Oyewo,
[http://www.thebreakingtimes.com/everything-in-nigeria-is-going-to-kill-you-by-oyewo-ishola-kingshola22/ "Everything in Nigeria is Going to Kill You"], Breaking Times, 15 May 2016.
In 2016, his essay "One More Nation Bound in Freedom", originally published in Transition, was nominated for the Gerald Kraak Award for African Writing.{{Cite web|url=http://jacana.bookslive.co.za/blog/2016/12/05/announcing-the-shortlist-for-the-2016-gerald-kraak-award-for-african-writers-and-artists/|title=Announcing the shortlist for the 2016 Gerald Kraak Award for African writers and artists|website=Jacana @ Sunday Times Books LIVE|date=5 December 2016|access-date=27 December 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/bookshelf/4-nigerians-make-gerald-kraak-award-shortlist/175290.html|title=4 Nigerians make Gerald Kraak Award shortlist|last=Bivan|first=Nathaniel|date=10 December 2016|work=Daily Trust}}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite news|url=https://africaindialogue.com/dialogues/gerald-kraak-award-shortlist-a-dialogue-with-ayodele-sogunro/|title=Gerald Kraak Award Shortlist: A Dialogue with Ayodele Sogunro – Africa in Dialogue|date=31 July 2017|work=Africa in Dialogue|access-date=12 February 2018}}
Bibliography
- Cracks in the Ivory Tower Faith Unity Press, 2004. {{ISBN|978-2-94333-9}}
- Death in the Dawn Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013. {{ISBN|978-1-482-08198-5}}
- The Wonderful Life of Senator Boniface and other Sorry Tales Bookvine, 2013. {{ISBN|978-9-789-34076-7}}
- Everything in Nigeria is Going to Kill You Shecrownlita Scribbles, 2014. {{ISBN|978-9-789-43268-4}}
References
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Category:University of Lagos alumni