Novelist, Playwright and Poet, Elechi Amadi Dies at 82

Novelist, Playwright and Poet, Elechi Amadi Dies at 82

Tragedy struck the literary community as one of Africa’s first generation, finest novelist and playwright,  Elechi Amadi was pronounced dead on Wednesday evening.

The brilliant writer, whose works include critically acclaimed novels like – The Concubine, The Road to Ibadan, The Slave, Estrangement and the Woman of Calabar, passed away at about 3: 45pm today, 29 June, at the Good Heart hospital in Port Harcourt, at age 82, His death was confirmed to Vanguard by a family member, Barr Wabueze Amadi.

Elechi Amadi  received many meritorious awards including an honorary doctorate, Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Education, honoris causa, award from Rivers State University of Science and Technology in 2011. He was born on 12 May 1934 and hails from Ikwere Local Government in Rivers State, and obtained a BSc in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Ibadan in 1959.

He served in the Nigerian Army and held various positions within the Rivers state government in his hay days. He was a former writer-in-residence and lecturer at Rivers State College of Education, where he also served as the Dean of Arts, Head of the literature department and Director of General Studies.

He will be sorely missed by the Nigerian literary community in particular, and Africa at large. May his soul rest in peace.