Pius Adesanmi
{{Short description|Nigerian-born Canadian professor (1972–2019)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Pius Adésanmí
| honorific_suffix =
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Pius Adebola Adesanmi
| birth_date = 27 February 1972
| birth_place = Isanlu, Kogi State, Nigeria
| death_date = 10 March 2019 (aged 47)
| death_place = near Bishoftu, Ethiopia
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| monuments =
| other_names =
| education =
| alma_mater = {{plainlist|
- Titcombe College Egbe
- University of Ilorin (BA)
- University of Ibadan (Ma)
- University of British Columbia (PhD)
}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Academic|author}}
| years_active =
| employer =
| organization =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| style =
| television =
| partner =
| children =
| parents =
| relatives =
| awards =
| website =
}}
Pius Adebola Adesanmi (27 February 1972[http://everythinliterature.blogspot.com/2007/07/pius-adesanmi.html "Pius Adesanmi: Nigerian image is a burden"] (interview), EverythinLiterature, 1 July 2007. – 10 March 2019) was a Nigerian-born Canadian academic and author. He was the author of Naija No Dey Carry Last, a 2015 collection of satirical essays. Adesanmi died on 10 March 2019, when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed shortly after take-off.
Biography
Adesanmi was born in Isanlu, in Yagba East local government area of Kogi State, Nigeria.{{Cite news|url=http://www.konnectafrica.net/professor-pius-adesanmi-award-winning-writer-activist-and-academician/|title=Professor Pius Adesanmi; Award-Winning Writer, Activist and Academician|date=7 March 2013|work=Konnect Africa|access-date=20 February 2018|language=en-US}} He earned a Bachelor of Arts in French language from the University of Ilorin in 1992, a Master's degree in French from the University of Ibadan in 1998, and a PhD in French Studies from the University of British Columbia, Canada, in 2002.
Adesanmi was a Fellow of the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA) from 1993 to 1997, and of the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) in 1998 and 2000.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/others/pius-adesanmi-for-ana-2012-convention/94298.html|title=Pius Adesanmi for ANA 2012 convention|last=Ibrahim|first=Abubakar Adam|author-link=Abubakar Adam Ibrahim|date=7 October 2012|work=Daily Trust|access-date=26 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615135553/https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/others/pius-adesanmi-for-ana-2012-convention/94298.html|archive-date=15 June 2018|url-status=dead}}
From 2002 to 2005, he was assistant professor of Comparative Literature at the Pennsylvania State University. In 2006, he joined Carleton University, in Ottawa, Canada, as a professor of Literature and African Studies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.books.magunga.com/store/naija-no-dey-carry-last-pius-adesanmi/|title=Naija No Dey Carry Last by Pius Adesanmi|publisher=the Magunga Bookstore|access-date=26 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728141724/http://books.magunga.com/store/naija-no-dey-carry-last-pius-adesanmi/|archive-date=28 July 2018|url-status=dead}} He was the director of the university's Institute of African Studies until his death.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47522028 |title=Ethiopian Airlines: Who are the victims? |publisher=BBC News |date=11 March 2019 |accessdate=11 March 2019 }}
For many years, Adesanmi was a regular columnist for Premium Times and Sahara Reporters. His writings were often satiric, focusing on the absurd in the Nigerian social and political system. His targets often included politicians, pastors, and other relevant public figures. In September 2015, his scathing column on the decision of the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, to take an underage wife generated substantial conversation on the matter,{{Cite news|url=http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/27/sls-what-will-not-stick-what-will-stick-pius-adesanmi|title=SLS: What Will Not Stick, What Will Stick |first= Pius|last= Adesanmi |date=27 September 2015|work=Sahara Reporters|access-date=19 March 2018}} and even got the response of the Emir who responded to Adesanmi by name.{{Cite web|url=http://thelightnews.com/at-last-sanusi-speaks-on-marriage-to-teenager-the-lady-gave-her-free-consent/|title=At last Sanusi speaks on marriage to teenager "The lady gave her free consent" {{!}} The Light News|website=thelightnews.com|language=en-US|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412001244/http://thelightnews.com/at-last-sanusi-speaks-on-marriage-to-teenager-the-lady-gave-her-free-consent/|archive-date=12 April 2018|url-status=dead}}
In 2015, he gave a TED talk titled "Africa is the forward that the world needs to face".{{Citation|last=TEDx Talks|title=Africa is the forward that the world needs to face {{!}} Pius Adesanmi {{!}} TEDxEuston|date=2 February 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofrxl7zDh_Q|accessdate=20 February 2018}}
Death
On 10 March 2019, Adesanmi was among passengers Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi crashed shortly after take-off with no survivors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-pius-adesanmi-nigerian-scholar-feared-dead-in-plane-crash|title=BREAKING: Pius Adesanmi, Nigerian scholar, feared dead in plane crash|date=10 March 2019|website=TheCable|language=en-US|access-date=10 March 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/carleton-professor-dead-in-ethiopian-airlines-crash-1.5050751|title=Ottawa professor dies in Ethiopian Airlines crash |publisher=CBC News |date=10 March 2019 |access-date=10 March 2019}} He was on his way to an African Union conference.
Legacy
Following his death, a collection of poetry with 267 poems from writers around the world, titled Wreaths for a Wayfarer in reference to the first book published by Adesanmi in 2001, was published in his honour by Daraja Press. The anthology was edited by Nduka Otiono and Uche Peter Umezurike.{{cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/05/poetic-tribute-to-pius-adesanmi/|title=Poetic Tribute to Pius Adesanmi|first=Chukwuma|last=Ajakah|date=31 May 2021|website=Vanguard|access-date=8 September 2023}}
Books
- The Wayfarer and Other Poems (Oracle Books, Lagos; 2001)
- You're Not a Country, Africa (Penguin Books; 2011)
- Naija No Dey Carry Last (Parrésia Publishers; 2015){{Cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/artsbooks/189319-naija-no-dey-carry-last-nuggets-from-pius-adesanmis-satirical-masterclass-by-premium-times-books-and-parresia.html|title="Naija No Dey Carry Last": Nuggets from Pius Adesanmi's Satirical Masterclass, By Premium Times Books and Parrésia – Premium Times Nigeria|date=31 August 2015|work=Premium Times Nigeria|access-date=26 December 2017|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|url=https://brittlepaper.com/2015/10/review-pius-adesanmis-nigeria-dey-carry-echezonachukwu-nduka/|title=Book Review {{!}} Pius Adesanmi's Nigeria No Dey Carry Last {{!}} by Echezonachukwu Nduka|date=19 October 2015|work=Brittle Paper|access-date=26 December 2017|language=en-US}}
- Who Owns the Problem? Africa and the Struggle for Agency (Michigan State University Press; 2020).
Awards
- In 2001, Adesanmi's first book, The Wayfarer and Other Poems, won the Association of Nigerian Authors' Poetry Prize.{{Cite web|url=http://www.african-writing.com/aug/profiles2.htm|title=African Writing; Profiles of 50 African Writers|website=www.african-writing.com|access-date=26 December 2017}}
- In 2010, his book You're not a Country, Africa (Penguin Books, 2011), a collection of essays, won the inaugural Penguin Prize for African Writing in the nonfiction category.{{Cite news|url=http://penguin.bookslive.co.za/blog/2010/09/06/the-winners-of-the-penguin-prizes-for-african-writing/|title=The Winners of the Penguin Prizes for African Writing|date=6 September 2010}}{{Cite news|url=http://saharareporters.com/2010/09/05/pius-adesanmi-saharareporters-weekly-columnist-wins-penguin-prize-african-writing|title=Pius Adesanmi, SaharaReporters Weekly Columnist, Wins Penguin Prize for African Writing {{!}} Sahara Reporters|last=siteadmin|date=5 September 2010|work=Sahara Reporters|access-date=2017-12-26|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.africabookclub.com/nigerian-zambian-take-top-2010-penguin-africa-writer-prize/|title=Nigerian, Zambian win 2010 Penguin African Writing Prize|date=5 September 2010|work=Africa Book Club|access-date=26 December 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=20 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320173556/https://www.africabookclub.com/nigerian-zambian-take-top-2010-penguin-africa-writer-prize/|url-status=dead}}
- In 2017, Adesanmi was a recipient of Canada Bureau of International Education Leadership Award.{{Cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/243299-premium-times-columnist-pius-adesanmi-win-prestigious-canadian-award.html|title=Premium Times columnist Pius Adesanmi wins prestigious Canadian award – Premium Times Nigeria|date=14 September 2017|work=Premium Times Nigeria|access-date=26 December 2017|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/250520-premium-times-columnist-pius-adesanmi-honoured-canada-photos.html|title=Premium Times columnist, Pius Adesanmi, honoured in Canada (PHOTOS) – Premium Times Nigeria|date=24 November 2017|work=Premium Times Nigeria|access-date=26 December 2017|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|url=http://saharareporters.com/2017/11/23/professor-pius-adesanmi-honored-canadian-bureau-international-education-halifax-canada|title=Professor Pius Adesanmi Honored By Canadian Bureau For International Education in Halifax, Canada {{!}} Sahara Reporters|last=siteadmin|date=23 November 2017|work=Sahara Reporters|access-date=26 December 2017}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2016/02/25/in-pius-adesanmis-speech-and-writing-there-is-hope-for-a-pan-african-future/ In Pius Adesanmi's speech and writing, there is hope for a Pan-African future] (February 2016) LSE Summit Interview
- [https://muckrack.com/pius-adesanmi/articles Articles by Pius Adesanmi]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adesanmi, Pius}}
Category:Canadian male non-fiction writers
Category:Nigerian emigrants to Canada
Category:University of Ilorin alumni
Category:University of Ibadan alumni
Category:People from Kogi State
Category:University of British Columbia alumni
Category:Pennsylvania State University faculty
Category:Academic staff of Carleton University
Category:Canadian satirical columnists
Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Ethiopia