Omoseye Bolaji

Omoseye Bolaji (16 August 1964 – 22 May 2022) was a Nigerian writer who contributed to the growth of African literature in South Africa, especially in the Free State. Bolaji has been editor of South African publications including Free State News, Kopanang magazine, E and E magazine, and CHOICE magazine.

Early life Bolaji grew up in England, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. He took secondary school at Lagelu Grammar School in Ibadan, Nigeria, and later studied at Nigeria's Obafemi Awolowo University.

Awards and honours Bolaji's awards and honours include: Sports Writer of the Year (2000), courtesy of the Eclectic Writers Club of Bloemfontein; recipient of the Community Publishing Project (CPP) grant (2003) from Cape Town's Centre for the Book; Free State Author of the Year (2003) for his novel, People of the Townships; Certificate for penning enthralling Fiction (2006), courtesy of Phoenix Literary Club, Ladybrand; and the "Lifetime Achievement Award" (2007) from the Free State Department of Sport, Art and Culture. In September 2007, the University of the Free State conferred the Chancellor's Medal on Omoseye Bolaji, in appreciation of his contributions to grassroots literacy and literature. Bolaji has also been conferred with an African Chieftaincy by the Olubadan of Ibadanland in Nigeria, again for his contributions to African literature. In 2009 the Mangaung Local Municipality honoured him "In Recognition of Valuable Contributions to Literature in the Free State". Bolaji was presented with another Lifetime Achievement award at the formal Mbali Literary Awards (2012) in Clocolan. Omoseye Bolaji has also been honoured with the 'Exquisite Calabash' in Ikire, Nigeria (2020).