Unoma Azuah

Unoma Azuah (born 23 June 1969) is a Nigerian writer, author, and activist whose research and activism focus on LGBT writing in Nigerian literature. She has published three books, two of which have won international awards. She focuses on issues relating to queer Nigerians, such as in Blessed Body: Secret Lives of LGBT Nigerians.

Biography Azuah was born in Ogwashi-Ukwu in Delta State of Nigeria to a Tiv father from Ukan in Ushongo local government area of Benue State and to an Igbo mother from Asaba in Delta State. Being born during the Nigerian Civil War to parents on both sides of the conflict, she was raised mostly as Igbo and was estranged from her paternal family because a Tiv Nigerian soldier was not supposed to cross the enemy line to get involved with a Biafran (Igbo) woman.

She attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where, as an undergraduate, she edited the English department literary journal called The Muse and received the awards of the best Creative Writing student for two consecutive years: 1992 and 1993. She has a Bachelor of Art degree in English, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1994), a Master's in English from Cleveland State University, Ohio (2001) and a Master's in Fine Art from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond (2003).

Gay rights advocacy/activism Azuah is the first Nigerian to give LGBTQI issues consistent visibility in the Nigerian literary scholarship. She left Nigeria in 1999, after receiving numerous threats to her life on account of her work, and now splits her time between the US and Nigeria to continue assisting and working with the Nigerian LGBTQI community.

Of her work, Azuah has said "I’ve always explored the theme of sexuality in my writing, especially in my poems and non-fiction pieces. Edible Bones is actually inspired by a true story. The life of the major character loosely reflects the life of a Nigerian immigrant I met. He happened to be highly homophobic, but when he goes to jail and becomes a point of attention for bullies, a homosexual guy happens to be his savior." Now a citizen of the USA, she continues to stay "deeply involved in her homeland by sharing stories of the persecution of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community there."

Professional life Azuah currently teaches English at the Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.

Publications Night Songs. Lagos: Oracle, 2002. A collection of Poetry Sky-high Flames. Frederick, MD: Publish America. July, 2005. A novel. The Length of Light. Germany: VDM; Dr. Müller, 2008. A collection of short stories. Edible Bones. New York: Demarche Publishing, 2013. American edition. A novel. On Broken Wings: An Anthology of Best Contemporary Nigerian Poetry. New York: DLite, 2014. Blessed Body: The Secret Lives of the Nigerian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender: non-fiction. Jackson, TN: Cookingpotbooks, 2016 Embracing My Shadow: Growing up lesbian in Nigeria

Awards

The Urban Spectrum National Best Novel of the year 2006 by an African born writer for Sky-high flames Best fiction writer of the year 2006 for Sky-high Flames, Association of Nigerian Authors/Flora Nwapa award for fiction, 2006 The Griot Hero award for civic engagement with Adult and High school students, West Tennessee, 2008 Nominee, Thomas Ehrlich Civically Engaged Faculty Award, Indiana University, 2009 Aidoo-Snyder Book Award, Women’s Caucus of the African Studies Association, for Edible Bones, 2011 Winner, Hellman-Hammett award for Sky-high Flames