Lola Shoneyin
{{short description|Nigerian poet and author (born 1974)}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
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{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Lola Shoneyin
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| image = Lola Shoneyin-1311.jpg
| caption = Lola Shoneyin 2015
| birth_name = Titilola Atinuke Alexandrah Shoneyin
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1974|02|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
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| nationality = Nigerian / British
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| occupation = Author
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| spouse = Olaokun Soyinka
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| parents =
| mother = Yetunde Shoneyin
| father = Chief Tinuoye
| relatives = Abraham Olayinka Okupe (Grandfather)
| family = 4 Children
| awards = Literary Person Of The Year - 2018
| website = {{URL|www.lolashoneyin.com}}
}}
Lola Shoneyin (born Titilola Atinuke Alexandrah Shoneyin; 26 February 1974 in Ibadan, Nigeria) is a Nigerian poet and author{{Cite web | title = Lola Shoneyin | accessdate = 2012-12-08 | work= BBC World Service - Arts & Culture | publisher = BBC | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/2010/04/100409_strand_lolashoneyin.shtml |date= 9 April 2010}} who launched her debut novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives, in the UK in May 2010.{{Cite web|title=Popular Nigerian Literary Icon, Lola Shoneyin, Clocks 45|url=http://www.publicfacesmagazine.com.ng/popular-nigerian-literary-icon-lola-shoneyin-clocks-45/|last=Mary|first=Aborele|date=2019-02-26|website=Welcome To PublicFace Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30}} Shoneyin has forged a reputation as an adventurous, humorous and outspoken poet (often classed in the feminist mould), having published three volumes of poetry.{{Cite web|title=An Interview with Lola Shoneyin, African Writing Online [many literatures, one voice]; Issue No. 9|url=https://www.african-writing.com/nine/lolashoneyin.htm|website=www.african-writing.com|access-date=2020-05-30}} Her writing delves into themes related to female sexuality and the difficulties of domestic life in Africa.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-24 |title=Lola Shoneyin |url=https://www.casafrica.es/ |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=Casafrica |language=es}} In April 2014 she was named on the Hay Festival's Africa39 list of 39 Sub-Saharan African writers aged under 40 with potential and talent to define trends in African literature.[http://www.hayfestival.com/artistlist-q-t.aspx Africa39 list of artists], Hay Festival. Lola won the PEN Award in America{{Cite web|title=Lola Shoneyin|url=https://pen.org/user/lola-shoneyin/|date=2015-01-07|website=PEN America|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}} as well as the Ken Saro-Wiwa Award for prose in Nigeria.{{Cite web|title=Lola Shoneyin|url=https://www.davidhigham.co.uk/authors-dh/lola-shoneyin/|website=David Higham Associates|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30}} She was also on the list for the Orange Prize in the UK for her debut novel, The Secret of Baba Segi's Wives, in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/life/on-the-cover/lola-shoneyin-writer-thinker-creator/|title=Lola Shoneyin: Writer, Thinker, Creator|last=Muoka|first=Chidera|date=26 November 2017|access-date=23 May 2018}} She lives in Lagos, Nigeria, where she runs the annual Aké Arts and Book Festival.{{Cite web|title=Ake Arts and Book Festival moves online|url=https://www.blueprint.ng/ake-arts-and-book-festival-moves-online/|last=III|first=Editorial|date=2020-04-10|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30}} In 2017, she was named African Literary Person of the Year by Brittle Paper.{{cite news |last1=Edoro |first1=Ainehi |title=The 2017 Brittle Paper African Literary Person of the Year Is Lola Shoneyin |url=https://brittlepaper.com/2017/12/lola-shoneyin-2017-brittle-paper-person-year/ |accessdate=20 August 2019 |publisher=Brittle Paper |date=30 December 2017}}
Biography
=Early life=
Titilola Atinuke Alexandrah Shoneyin was born in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, south-western Nigeria, in 1974. She is the youngest of six children and the only girl. Her parents, Chief Tinuoye Shoneyin and Mrs. Yetunde Shoneyin (née Okupe), are Remo indigenes from Ogun State.
Shoneyin’s work is significantly influenced by her life, notably providing material on polygamy for her debut novel; her maternal grandfather, Abraham Olayinka Okupe (1896-1976) was the traditional ruler of Iperu Remo and had five wives. He ascended the throne in 1938 and died in 1976.{{Cite web | title = Polygamy? No thanks | last = Shoneyin | first = Lola | work = The Guardian | accessdate = 2012-12-08 | date = 2010-03-20 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/mar/20/polygamy-nigeria-abuja-tradition }}
=Education and career=
At the age of six, she went to boarding school in the UK, attending Cargilfield School, Edinburgh;{{Cite web | title = Lola Shoneyin: Feeling the pain of racist abuse| last = Shoneyin | first = Lola | work= The Scotsman |date=16 February 2009| accessdate = 8 December 2012 | url = http://www.scotsman.com/news/lola-shoneyin-feeling-the-pain-of-racist-abuse-1-1192444 }} The Collegiate School, Winterbourne, Bristol, and Fettes Junior School in Edinburgh. Returning to Nigeria after her father was imprisoned by the then military government, she completed her secondary education at Abadina College. She later earned her BA (Hons) degree from Ogun State University in 1994/95.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}
Shoneyin's early writing consists mainly of poetry and short stories. Early examples of her work appeared in the Post Express in 1995,{{Cite web|title=5 Nigerian women who #pressforprogress in arts|url=https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel/international-womens-day-5-nigerian-women-who-pressforprogress-in-arts/kfbl21d|date=2018-03-08|website=Pulse Nigeria|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30}} which features a short story about a Nigerian woman who leaves her husband for an Austrian woman. This story initiated dialogue about homosexuality within a Nigerian context.
Her first volume of poetry, So All the Time I was Sitting on an Egg, was published by Ovalonion House, Nigeria, in 1998.{{Cite web|title=Lola Shoneyin: The poet in me is alive|url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/lola-shoneyin-the-poet-in-me-is-alive/|date=2016-11-05|website=The Sun Nigeria|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30}} Shoneyin attended the renowned International Writing Program in Iowa, USA, in August 1999 and was also in that year a Distinguished Scholar at the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota).
Her second volume of poetry, Song of a Riverbird, was published in Nigeria (Ovalonion House) in 2002.{{Cite web|title=Song of a Riverbird...A Review|url=https://www.africanwriter.com/song-of-a-riverbird-a-review/|date=2005-11-29|website=AfricanWriter.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30}} While living in England, she obtained a teaching degree from London Metropolitan University in 2005.
Shoneyin completed her first novel in 2000. Her second novel, Harlot, received some interest, but the story of a young girl growing up in colonial Nigeria to make a fortune as a "Madame" remains unpublished. {{Citation needed|date=May 2022}} Shoneyin moved on to her third novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives, which was published in 2010.{{Cite web|title=Lola Shoneyin|url=https://www.pandeliterary.com/lola-shoneyin|website=APL|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30}} It was adapted as a stage play by Rotimi Babatunde and it showed in the Arcola Theatre in London.{{Cite web|last=Hitchings|first=Henry|date=19 June 2018 |title=The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives is enjoyably clamorous|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/the-secret-lives-of-baba-segis-wives-review-enjoyably-clamorous-and-unflinchingly-serious-a3866296.html|access-date=2021-06-08|website=Evening Standard|language=en}}
Cassava Republic Press, Nigeria, published Shoneyin's third poetry collection, For the Love of Flight, in February 2010.{{Cite web|title=BBC Radio 4 - Writing a New Nigeria - Meet the authors|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3H7X6d46c9JgnWQH7pMNw2m/meet-the-authors|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-30}} Mayowa and the Masquerades, a children’s book, was also published by Cassava Republic, in July 2010.{{Cite web|title=Five Nigerian novelists you should read {{!}} British Council|url=https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/five-nigerian-novelists-should-read|website=www.britishcouncil.org|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}}
Shoneyin has also written for newspapers, including The Scotsman, The Guardian, and The Times on issues such as racism, Nigeria's tradition of polygamous marriage, the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram and the elections of now former President Muhammadu Buhari.
She is the founder and Director of [https://bookbuzzfoundation.org/ Book Buzz Foundation], a non-governmental organization established in 2012 for the promotion of arts and culture within local and global spaces.{{Cite web|title=Book Buzz Foundation Archives - Premium Times Nigeria|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/tag/book-buzz-foundation|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-30}} She co-founded Infusion, a popular monthly gathering for music, art and culture in Abuja, Nigeria.{{Cite web|url=https://ynaija.com/dami-ajayi-profiles-lola-shoneyin-the-cultural-activist-promoting-african-literature-y-ynaija-com-person-of-the-year-nominee/|last=Ajayi | first=Dami| title=Dami Ajayi Profiles Lola Shoneyin: the Cultural Activist Promoting African Literature (Y!/Ynaija.Com Person of the Year Nominee) |date=16 December 2017|access-date=24 May 2018}} Shoneyin served as a judge of the 2018 Caine Prize for African Writing. She also runs the publishing imprint and bookshop Ouida Books in Nigeria.{{cite web|url=https://ouidabooks.com/team/lola-shoneyin/|title=Lola Shoneyin|publisher=Ouida Books}}
=Private life=
Her first marriage lasted a short 40 days and is now remarried to medical doctor Olaokun Soyinka, son of Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka for 22 years.{{Cite web |last=Shoneyin |first=Lola |date=2010-03-20 |title=Polygamy? No thanks |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/mar/20/polygamy-nigeria-abuja-tradition |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} She currently lives in Lagos with her husband and four children (2 boys and 2 girls).{{Cite web |title=Lola Shoneyin biography, net worth, age, family, contact & picture |url=https://www.manpower.com.ng/people/15919/lola-shoneyin |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=www.manpower.com.ng}}
Works
= Novels =
- Mayowa and the Masquerades - January 2021{{Cite web |date=2018-05-11 |title=Mayowa and The Masquerades {{!}} Cassava Republic Press |url=https://cassavarepublic.biz/product/mayowa-masquerades/,%20https://cassavarepublic.biz/?product=mayowa-masquerades |access-date=2022-10-12 |language=en-US}}
- Nostalgia is an Extreme Sport: An essay from the collection, Of This Our Country - September 2010{{Cite web |title=Nostalgia is an Extreme Sport: An essay from the collection, Of This Our Country |url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/nostalgia-is-an-extreme-sport-an-essay-from-the-collection-of-this-our-country-lola-shoneyin |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=HarperCollins |language=en}}
- Baba Segi, Ses Épouses, Leurs Secrets October 2016{{Cite web |title=Baba Segi, ses épouses, leurs secrets {{!}} Actes Sud |url=https://www.actes-sud.fr/node/56920 |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=www.actes-sud.fr}}
- The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives, London: Serpent's Tail, May 2010.{{Cite web |title=The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives |url=https://serpentstail.com/work/the-secret-lives-of-baba-segis-wives/ |access-date=2020-05-30 |website=Serpent's Tail |language=en}}
- Longlisted for the 2011 Orange Prize,{{Cite news|last=Armitstead|first=Claire|date=2011-03-16|title=Orange prize for fiction 2011: the longlist - gallery|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/gallery/2011/mar/16/orange-prize-longlist|access-date=2020-05-30|issn=0261-3077}} won the 2011 PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award{{Cite web|title=Author|url=https://www.harpercollins.com/author/|website=HarperCollins Publishers: World-Leading Book Publisher|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30}} and won two Association of Nigerian Authors Awards.{{Cite web|title=SPLA {{!}} Lola Shoneyin|url=http://www.spla.pro/en/file.person.lola-shoneyin.50733.html|website=www.spla.pro|access-date=2020-05-30}}
- Translated into seven languages, published in Italian as Prudenti Come Serpenti.
=Short stories=
- "Woman in Her Season", Post Express Newspapers, 1996{{Cite web|title=Biography Of Lola Shoneyin|url=https://www.medianigeria.com/biography-of-lola-shoneyin/|last=Nigeria|first=Media|date=2018-06-05|website=Media Nigeria|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30}}
=Poetry=
- So All the Time I was Sitting on an Egg (1998){{Cite web|title=Lola Shoneyin|url=https://www.africabookclub.com/featured-writer-lola-shoneyin/|date=2012-03-04|website=Africa Book Club|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30}}
- Song of a River Bird, Ovalonion House (Nigeria, 2002){{Cite web|title=notes on contributors|url=http://www.sentinelpoetry.org.uk/magazine0204/contributors.html|website=www.sentinelpoetry.org.uk|access-date=2020-05-30}}
- For the Love of Flight (2010){{Cite web|title=An Interview with Lola Shoneyin, African Writing Online [many literatures, one voice]; Issue No. 9|url=http://www.african-writing.com/nine/lolashoneyin.htm|website=www.african-writing.com|access-date=2020-05-30}}
=Children’s books=
Scholarly study of Lola Shoneyin's work
- Abiola, Emmanuel. Negotiating Patriarchal Structures: Polygamy and Female Agency in Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives. Ibadan Journal of English Studies 7 (2018): 497–504.
- Bámgbózé, Gabriel. "Beyond Gender Allegory: A Postcolonial Reading of Lola Shoneyin’s Poetry. Ibadan Journal of English Studies 7 (2018): 155-170.
- Jegede, O. B. Subversive (re) writing and body poetics in Lola Shoneyin’s "So all the time I was sitting on an egg". Ibadan Journal of English Studies 7 (2018): 207–224.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110713063827/http://www.lolashoneyin.com/ Website]
- [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rqqyb BBC Woman’s Hour interview], 6 April 2010.
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHJxcHQPotA&feature=youtu.be "PublisHer #Unmasked, Africa: Lola Shoneyin"], 17 September 2020. Interview with Maimouna Jallow.
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shoneyin, Lola}}
Category:Nigerian women novelists
Category:People educated at Cargilfield School
Category:People educated at Fettes College
Category:20th-century Nigerian poets
Category:21st-century Nigerian novelists
Category:Alumni of London Metropolitan University
Category:20th-century Nigerian women writers
Category:Olabisi Onabanjo University alumni
Category:21st-century Nigerian poets