Play episode

Helon Habila, Bringing African Literature to the Rest of the World

by Zeze Oriaikhi-SaoAugust 9, 2021

Helon Habila believes in hard work, perseverance, and believing in himself and his capabilities. His motivation to be a great writer led him to defy the wishes of his parents and to challenge the negative beliefs of some of his fellow authors. He always believed his dream was possible, even if he didn’t realize how big that dream could be and the reach it would have. Helon was willing to make big sacrifices in pursuit of his writing career, including leaving Nigeria, a country that was suffering from the consequences of a totalitarian military regime.

Despite having won awards for his work, Helon maintains a humble attitude. He recognizes that he has had a lot of luck, which he could only leverage thanks to his preparation. Helon’s determination is a big part of what allowed him to become a published author by Penguin, one of the world’s top publishing houses. His advice to writers is to own their voice by understanding their culture and where they come from. Only then will they be able to see where they can innovate and how they can make their impact on the world.

About Helon Habila

Helon Habila is a Nigerian writer, poet, literary, and pioneer when it comes to African literature. He is an award-winning author, having earned prestigious recognitions such as the National Poetry Award and the Caine Prize. He has also been nominated for numerous other awards. Helon is currently a professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and he is in the process of writing his next novel, tentatively titled The Fortress.

Highlights of the episode:

02:17: Helon Habila’s journey to literature after trying to meet parental expectations by studying engineering.
06:57: How Helon had to hide his decision to become a writer for fear of being misunderstood.
11:06: Helon’s start in the writing industry as a struggling romance story writer.
14:14: The “I made it” moment that encouraged Helon to keep writing.
16:40: The hardships faced by the publishing industry.
21:25: Helon’s decision to enter his work into a contest posing as a publisher
23:50: The experience of being part of a community that believed in making cultural changes in Nigeria.
25:05: The need to leave the country to be able to write due to the anti-culture atmosphere in Nigeria.
29:23: Visualizing success and believing in the quality of his work helped Helon get where he wanted to be.
31:43: The need for a new model that allowed African writers to be published.
36:34: What it means to own your voice.
40:14: The process of reinventing yourself and adapting after arriving in a new country and how this can impact creativity.

Mentioned Resources

Hosted by

Zeze Oriaikhi-Sao

Join the discussion Cancel reply

6 comments

Graidssar says:

November 16, 2024 at 2:03 pm

Plasma drug concentrations rise at a gradual, controlled rate after a PROCARDIA XL Extended Release Tablet dose and reach a plateau at approximately six hours after the first dose dapoxetine priligy

Reply
Kim Berube says:

November 26, 2024 at 9:31 am

Hello! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.

Reply
can you buy cytotec no prescription says:

November 30, 2024 at 1:25 pm

Clarion Ledger Newspaper where buy generic cytotec pills 24 Finally, the synergistic effect of trametinib and chloroquine was further confirmed in patient derived xenograft PDAC models as well as in NRAS mutated melanoma and BRAF mutated colorectal cancer models

Reply
can i order cheap cytotec pills says:

December 1, 2024 at 9:18 am

com, which identifies only the top 10 LASIK surgeons in each state, lists Doctor Ferzaad Moosa as one of the best LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles and the rest of California cost generic cytotec price The bearded and keto vip pills gloomy front belly fat exercise for men at home line warrior hated the sailors in the rear, eager for revenge

Reply
registro en Binance says:

December 12, 2024 at 1:42 pm

Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?

Reply
Reddit NHL streams replacement says:

December 16, 2024 at 5:11 pm

This web site can be a stroll-via for all of the data you needed about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and also you’ll positively discover it.

Reply