Odafe Atogun was born in Nigeria, in the town of Lokoja, where the Rivers Niger and Benue meet, but hails from Edo State. He studied Journalism at the Times Journalism Institute, Lagos and is now a full-time writer. He is married and lives in Abuja.
World rights to Atogun’s first novel, Taduno’s Song, were acquired by Canongate and sold in the United States, Germany, Italy and Turkey. It was chosen for the BBC Radio 2 Book Club.
Odafe Atogun’s new novel, Wake Me When I’m Gone was published in 2017. In 2018, it was chosen as one of 12 titles for the WH Smith’s Fresh Talent Promotion.
Praise for Taduno’s Song:
Burning with magic and loss, exile and return, beauty and heartache, Taduno’s Song is a colossal epic, disguised as a small novel.’, Marlon James, author of A BRIEF HISTORY OF SEVEN KILLINGS.
‘A heartfelt and imaginative story told with sincerity and compassion’ Pettina Gappah, author of THE BOOK OF MEMORY.
‘This quiet novel is an original. It is as if Odafe Atogun has plunged into the depths of the sea of Nigeria’s history and returned with a leviathan, and invited us to see – and be amused, troubled, scared, and even angry. And we cannot help but look’ Chigozie Obioma, author of THE FISHERMEN
Praise for Wake Me When I’m Gone:
‘Atogun has combined folkloric elements with a strong central character to create a haunting and unusual narrative . . . beautiful and evocative’, Helon Habila, Guardian
‘A beautiful, dreamlike story which lingers in the mind and heart. There is oppression and tragedy, sincerely conveyed, but there is also remarkable triumph, a stunning rebirth and shimmering hope. A treat – especially for fans of Ben Okri and Elechi Amadi’ Leila Aboulela, Orange Prize-longlisted author of THE TRANSLATOR and MINARET
‘[An] unforgettable new voice, writing in polished, gleaming prose’, Anita Sethi
