International Journal of Literature and Arts 2016; 4(4): 55-60 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ijla doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20160404.13 ISSN: 2331-0553 (Print); ISSN: 2331-057X (Online) Conference Paper Cyprian Ekwensi as a National, Urban or Pan-African Writer Umar Muhammad Dogondaji Department of Modern European Languages and Linguistics, Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Nigeria Email address: dogondajiumaru@yahoo.co.uk To cite this article: Umar Muhammad Dogondaji. Cyprian Ekwensi as a National, Urban or Pan-African Writer. International Journal of Literature and Arts. Vol. 4, No. 4, 2016, pp. 55-60. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20160404.13 Received: April 30, 2016; Accepted: June 25, 2016; Published: July 15, 2016 Abstract: Cyprian Ekwensi is, by any standard a major figure in African literature of the mid-twentieth Century. From its birth to date, Nigerian literature witnessed a tremendous growth and development with the early publications of the literary works of Chinua Achebe and those of Wole Soyinka respectively. However, despite the publication of about eight major novels by Cyprian Ekwensi, some literary critics still refuse to acknowledge the contribution and the importance of this popular Nigerian author. This paper attempts therefore to shed more light on the literary career of the author, his literary ideology as well as why some critics tag him to be a National, Urban or Pan-African Writer. Keywords: Literature, National Writer, Pan-African Writer, Literary Ideology, Literary Works 1. Introduction Nigerian literature is known throughout the world through the works of Chinua Achebe and those of Wole Soyinka. Besides these two renowned African writers, the literary works of Cyprian Ekwensi circulate in Africa so much so that his major novels are studied today in the sub-Saharan universities. Cyprian Ekwensi has written eight major novels: his novels present the three Nigerian societies: Burning Grass for instance, is an overview of Fulani traditional society of northern Nigeria, its culture and modes of life. Jagua Nana reflects the Western Nigerian sophisticated life while, the People of the City, tries to examine the moral decadence of life in Lagos. His biography shows that the author has written 33 short stories designated to teach moral education as well as serve as entertainment to Nigerian children. In this article, we examine the biography of the author, his literary ideology as well as his literary vision on African literature in general and that of Nigeria in particular. The purpose of this article is to enable us to reflect on the literary contributions of the Nigerian writers in general and that of Cyprian Ekwensi in particular who has been tagged by some critics as being an urban writer because of his two earlier major novels which dealt with life in the cities and moral decadence. 2. Cyprian Ekwensi’s Literary Journey from 1921- 2007: Constance and Evolution Cyprian Ekwensi was born in Minna in northern Nigeria on September 26, 1921. His parents were Igbos but his father was then living in the north, working as a carpenter. His father was reputed to be great hunter in those days. Mr Ekwensi was educated in Nigeria, Ghana and England where he studied pharmacology at the Chelsea School of Pharmacy of London University. Afterwards, he as a teacher taught English, Chemistry, Biology, and Pharmacology in Nigeria, became a Pharmacist with the Nigerian Medical Service and then, suddenly, he switched to journalism where he became the Head of the features section of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. In 1961, he became Director of information in Lagos, the post he occupied up to 1967. He played a similar role in the secessionist Eastern Region during the Nigerian civil war (1967-1970). After the war, he operated a small Pharmacy in Enugu, started an exercise-machine business in Lagos and in 1976 became Managing Director of the Star Newspaper of Enugu. By this time, he had already published five novels-the most recent by then was Beautiful feathers and Iska-and a number of books for children as well as several Collections of Short Stories.