Olufemi Terry
Encyclopedia
Olufemi Terry is a Sierra Leone
-born writer. He won the 2010 Caine Prize for African Writing
for his second short story
"Stickfighting Days
," which was originally published in Chimurenga Vol. 12/13. The judges said he was "a talent with an enormous future". He hopes to publish his debut novel
soon.
, the United Kingdom
, and the Côte d'Ivoire
and studied at a university in New York
, United States, before becoming a journalist in both Somalia
and Uganda
. He now lives in Stuttgart
, Germany
. He received an MA in Creative Writing at the University of Cape Town
in 2008.
On 5 July 2010, Terry won the Caine Prize for African Writing, ahead of such other African writers as Ken Barris (South Africa), Lily Mabura (Kenya), Namwali Serpell (Zambia), and Alex Smith (South Africa). Judges chair and literary editor with The Economist
, Fiammetta Rocco, said:
. He may also spend a month in residence at Georgetown University
in the United States.
Terry writes about the African diaspora
. However, he believes it is "unhelpful" to view African writers as a unique grouping of their own, saying to the BBC
's World Today
, "There is a danger in seeking authenticity in African writing". He says the Caine Prize would be useful as it would assist in the publication of his debut novel, called The Sum of All Losses. Terry has published three other short stories: Digitalis Lust is an exploration of isolation set in Cape Town published in the Caine Prize's 8th annual collection, Jambula Tree;
Lamu Squat, written in 2006 and set in Lamu, Kenya, was published in the online magazine Guernica in early March, 2011; and Dark Triad, published in Blip Magazine (The new Mississippi Review) as well as in the Caine Anthology, To See the Mountain.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
-born writer. He won the 2010 Caine Prize for African Writing
Caine Prize
The Caine Prize for African Writing is an annual literary award for the best original short story by an African writer, whether in Africa or elsewhere, published in the English language. The £10,000 prize was founded in the United Kingdom in 2000, and was named in memory of the late Sir Michael...
for his second short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
"Stickfighting Days
Stickfighting Days
"Stickfighting Days" is Sierra Leonean writer Olufemi Terry's second short story and the winner of the 2010 Caine Prize for African Writing. It was originally published in the pan-African magazine Chimurenga ....
," which was originally published in Chimurenga Vol. 12/13. The judges said he was "a talent with an enormous future". He hopes to publish his debut novel
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
soon.
Life
Terry was born in Sierra Leone but grew up in NigeriaNigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and the Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
and studied at a university in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States, before becoming a journalist in both Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
and Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. He now lives in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He received an MA in Creative Writing at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
in 2008.
On 5 July 2010, Terry won the Caine Prize for African Writing, ahead of such other African writers as Ken Barris (South Africa), Lily Mabura (Kenya), Namwali Serpell (Zambia), and Alex Smith (South Africa). Judges chair and literary editor with The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
, Fiammetta Rocco, said:
Ambitious, brave and hugely imaginative, Olufemi Terry's Stickfighting Days presents a heroic culture that is Homeric in its scale and conception. The execution of this story is so tight and the presentation so cinematic, it confirms Olufemi Terry as a talent with an enormous future.Terry said he was "overwhelmed for at least the first hour". He received his prize of £10,000 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He may also spend a month in residence at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in the United States.
Terry writes about the African diaspora
African diaspora
The African diaspora was the movement of Africans and their descendants to places throughout the world—predominantly to the Americas also to Europe, the Middle East and other places around the globe...
. However, he believes it is "unhelpful" to view African writers as a unique grouping of their own, saying to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's World Today
The World Today (BBC World Service)
The World Today is BBC World Service's high profile, Sony Radio Academy Award winning, early morning news and current affairs programme, which as of the 27th March 2011 will be broadcast from 0300 to 0830 daily. It consists of news bulletins on the hour and half hour, serious international...
, "There is a danger in seeking authenticity in African writing". He says the Caine Prize would be useful as it would assist in the publication of his debut novel, called The Sum of All Losses. Terry has published three other short stories: Digitalis Lust is an exploration of isolation set in Cape Town published in the Caine Prize's 8th annual collection, Jambula Tree;
Lamu Squat, written in 2006 and set in Lamu, Kenya, was published in the online magazine Guernica in early March, 2011; and Dark Triad, published in Blip Magazine (The new Mississippi Review) as well as in the Caine Anthology, To See the Mountain.
External links
- Official website
- "Stickfighting Days"
- "Conversations with Olufemi Terry", PopAfricana, November 26, 2010
- "Last word by Olufemi Terry: We need austerity, not ostentation", The Africa Report, 9 February 2011