Ayo Sogunro

Ayo Sogunro
Born
Ayọ̀délé Ọlọ́runfúnmi Sógunró

Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Alma materUniversity of Lagos
Occupation(s)Lawyer, writer

Ayo Sogunro (born 1984) is a Nigerian author, essayist and human rights lawyer. He is known for his work in social advocacy and for the protection of civil rights and the rights of sexual minorities in Nigeria. He was listed as one of the "100 Most Influential Nigerians" in 2017.[1]

Life and work

Sogunro was born in Abeokuta and attended the University of Lagos for his law degree. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2008.

His collection of short stories The Wonderful Life of Senator Boniface and other Sorry Tales[2][3] was listed as one of the top 25 Nigerian books of 2013.[4] It is a collection of 14 stories about Nigerian and Nigerians, "full of sorry tales interfused with poetry, exploring themes of human nature in general, and Nigerian social psychology in particular"[5] The work has been described as a work that "brings to life – and death – the spirit of Lagos and Lagosians.[6]

In 2014, his collection of critical essays "Everything in Nigeria is Going to Kill You"[7] was released. Its central idea is that Nigeria had evolved from "not taking care of you" into "actively trying to kill you".[8] In 2016, his essay "One More Nation Bound in Freedom", originally published in Transition, was nominated for the Gerald Kraak Award for African Writing.[9][10][11]

Bibliography

  • Cracks in the Ivory Tower Faith Unity Press, 2004. ISBN 978-2-94333-9
  • Death in the Dawn Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013. ISBN 978-1-482-08198-5
  • The Wonderful Life of Senator Boniface and other Sorry Tales Bookvine, 2013. ISBN 978-9-789-34076-7
  • Everything in Nigeria is Going to Kill You Shecrownlita Scribbles, 2014. ISBN 978-9-789-43268-4

References

  1. ^ "100 MOST INFLUENTIAL NIGERIAN WRITERS UNDER 40. (2017 LIST)". Nigerian Writers Awards. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  2. ^ Bagnetto, Laura Angela (26 September 2017). "Nigeria: A Glimpse Into the Lives of Lagosians". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Saraba Talk with Ayobami Adebayo & Ayo Sogunro", Saraba Magazine, 26 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Top 25 Nigerian Books in 2013". goodbooksafrica.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ Quadri, Zainab (27 May 2015). "Book Review: The wonderful life of senator Boniface and other sorry tales [Review]". Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  6. ^ Bagnetto, Laura Angela (26 September 2017). "Nigeria: A Glimpse Into the Lives of Lagosians in Nigerian Ayo Sogunro's Short Story Collection". Radio France Internationale. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  7. ^ Adeiye, Temitope (3 June 2016). "Ayo Sogunro: Social critic talks about Literature, LGBT rights, Nigerian government". Pulse. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  8. ^ Ishola, Oyewo, "Everything in Nigeria is Going to Kill You", Breaking Times, 15 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Announcing the shortlist for the 2016 Gerald Kraak Award for African writers and artists". Jacana @ Sunday Times Books LIVE. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  10. ^ Bivan, Nathaniel (10 December 2016). "4 Nigerians make Gerald Kraak Award shortlist". Daily Trust.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ "Gerald Kraak Award Shortlist: A Dialogue with Ayodele Sogunro – Africa in Dialogue". Africa in Dialogue. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2018.