Michael Afenfia

Michael Afenfia is a Nigerian novelist. He is the author of The Mechanics of Yenagoa and Leave My Bones in Saskatoon. His works focus on themes such as life in the, Niger Delta and experiences of migration. Early life and education

Afenfia was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and grew up partly in Port Harcourt and Lagos. He studied Law at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, and subsequently obtained a Master of Business Administration from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Career

Afenfia worked in banking, construction, real estate and communications before transitioning into public service. From 2016 to 2019, he served as Speechwriter to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State and was a member of the Bayelsa State Literary Board. Between 2014 and 2016, he served as Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Bayelsa State Chapter.

In the summer of 2019, Afenfia relocated to Saskatchewan, Canada. He works as Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement Integration Agencies (SAISIA) and serves on multiple boards including Word on the Street Saskatoon, the University of Saskatchewan's Biomedical Research Ethics Board, and the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan.

Works

Afenfia has authored the following novels:

When the Moon Caught Fire (2010) A Street Called Lonely (2011) Don't Die on Wednesday (2014) Paxoid and the Battle for the Blue Medallion (2017), co-authored with his son Biboye The Mechanics of Yenagoa (2020) Rain Can Never Know (2021) Leave My Bones in Saskatoon (2023)

He has also written a biography of Gboribiogha John Jonah, the former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.