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{{short description|Nigerian writer and video artist}}
{{Short description|Nigerian writer and video artist (born 1987)}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox writer
{{Infobox writer
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| years_active = 2017–present
| years_active = 2017–present
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'''Akwaeke Emezi''' is a Nigerian fiction writer and video artist, best known for their novels ''[[Freshwater (novel)|Freshwater]]'', '' [[Pet (novel)|Pet]],'' and their [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''New York Times'' bestselling]] novel ''[[The Death of Vivek Oji]]''.<ref name=":1" /> Emezi is a generalist who writes [[speculative fiction]], romance, memoir and poetry for both young adults and adults with mostly LGBT themes. Their work has earned them several awards and nominations including the [[Otherwise Award]] and [[Commonwealth Short Story Prize]]. In 2021, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' featured them as a Next Generation Leader.<ref name=":10" />
'''Akwaeke Emezi''' is a Nigerian fiction writer and video artist, best known for their novels ''[[Freshwater (novel)|Freshwater]]'', '' [[Pet (novel)|Pet]],'' and their [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''New York Times'' bestselling]] novel ''[[The Death of Vivek Oji]]''.<ref name=":1" /> Emezi is a generalist who writes [[speculative fiction]], romance, memoir, and poetry for both young adults and adults with mostly LGBT themes. Their work has earned them several awards and nominations including the [[Otherwise Award]] and [[Commonwealth Short Story Prize]]. In 2021, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' featured them as a Next Generation Leader.<ref name=":10" />


== Early life and education ==
== Early life and education ==
Akwaeke Emezi was born in [[Umuahia]], the capital city of [[Abia State]], southeastern Nigeria in 1987 to an [[Igbo people|Igbo]] Nigerian father, and a mother who was the daughter of [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Sri Lankan Tamil]] immigrants living in Malaysia.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Binyam |first=Maya |date=19 May 2022 |title='The Goal Is to Get As Bright As Possible' |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/akwaeke-emezi-profile.html |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}</ref> Emezi grew up in [[Aba, Abia|Aba]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Books We Love: Inside The Bubble With Akwaeke Emezi {{!}} Death, Sex & Money|url=https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/deathsexmoney/episodes/akwaeke-emezi-live-death-sex-money|access-date=2020-08-26|website=WNYC Studios|language=en|archive-date=15 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915104517/https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/deathsexmoney/episodes/akwaeke-emezi-live-death-sex-money|url-status=dead}}</ref> Emezi started reading fantasy books and with their sister [[Yagazie Emezi|Yagazie]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/families-changing-the-world-vogue-february-2018-issue|title=5 Families Who Are Changing The World as We Know It|last=Leibovitz|first=Annie|website=Vogue|date=11 January 2018|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10|archive-date=1 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401134215/https://www.vogue.com/article/families-changing-the-world-vogue-february-2018-issue|url-status=live}}</ref> used storytelling to escape the riots, dictatorship, and dangerous reality of their childhoods.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mythosmag.com/interviewhome/39-akwaeke-emezi|title=39: Akwaeke Emeziwriter and video artist|website=Mythos|access-date=2020-03-10|archive-date=15 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915113623/https://mythosmag.com/interviewhome/39-akwaeke-emezi|url-status=live}}</ref> Emezi was a "voracious" reader during childhood and they began writing short stories when they were five years old.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://therumpus.net/2018/02/the-rumpus-interview-with-akwaeke-emezi/|title=A Spirit Born into a Human Body: Talking with Akwaeke Emezi|date=21 February 2018|website=The Rumpus.net|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10|archive-date=24 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224022418/https://therumpus.net/2018/02/the-rumpus-interview-with-akwaeke-emezi/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=20 October 2018|title=Akwaeke Emezi: 'I'd read everything – even the cereal box'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/20/akwaeke-emezi-interview-freshwater|access-date=2021-09-26|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926060247/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/20/akwaeke-emezi-interview-freshwater|url-status=live}}</ref>
Akwaeke Emezi was born in [[Umuahia]], the capital city of [[Abia State]], southeastern Nigeria in 1987 to an [[Igbo people|Igbo]] Nigerian father, and a mother who was the daughter of [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Sri Lankan Tamil]] immigrants living in Malaysia.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Binyam |first=Maya |date=19 May 2022 |title='The Goal Is to Get As Bright As Possible' |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/akwaeke-emezi-profile.html |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}</ref> Emezi grew up in [[Aba, Abia|Aba]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Books We Love: Inside The Bubble With Akwaeke Emezi {{!}} Death, Sex & Money|url=https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/deathsexmoney/episodes/akwaeke-emezi-live-death-sex-money|access-date=2020-08-26|website=WNYC Studios|language=en|archive-date=15 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915104517/https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/deathsexmoney/episodes/akwaeke-emezi-live-death-sex-money|url-status=dead}}</ref> Emezi started reading fantasy books and with their sister [[Yagazie Emezi|Yagazie]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/families-changing-the-world-vogue-february-2018-issue|title=5 Families Who Are Changing The World as We Know It|last=Leibovitz|first=Annie|website=Vogue|date=11 January 2018|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10|archive-date=1 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401134215/https://www.vogue.com/article/families-changing-the-world-vogue-february-2018-issue|url-status=live}}</ref> used storytelling to escape the riots, dictatorship, and dangerous reality of their childhoods.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mythosmag.com/interviewhome/39-akwaeke-emezi|title=39: Akwaeke Emeziwriter and video artist|website=Mythos|access-date=2020-03-10|archive-date=15 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915113623/https://mythosmag.com/interviewhome/39-akwaeke-emezi|url-status=live}}</ref> Emezi was a "voracious" reader during childhood and they began writing short stories when they were five years old.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://therumpus.net/2018/02/the-rumpus-interview-with-akwaeke-emezi/|title=A Spirit Born into a Human Body: Talking with Akwaeke Emezi|date=21 February 2018|website=The Rumpus.net|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10|archive-date=24 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224022418/https://therumpus.net/2018/02/the-rumpus-interview-with-akwaeke-emezi/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=20 October 2018|title=Akwaeke Emezi: 'I'd read everything – even the cereal box'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/20/akwaeke-emezi-interview-freshwater|access-date=2021-09-26|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926060247/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/20/akwaeke-emezi-interview-freshwater|url-status=live}}</ref>


Emezi relocated to the [[Appalachia]]n region of the United States when they were 16 years old to attend college.<ref name=":10">{{Cite magazine |last=Tre’vell Anderson |title=Author Akwaeke Emezi Is Writing New Possibilities Into Being |url=https://time.com/collection-post/6047430/akwaeke-emezi-next-generation-leaders/ |access-date=2022-05-24 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524003614/https://time.com/collection-post/6047430/akwaeke-emezi-next-generation-leaders/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":9" /> After college, they enrolled in a veterinary school and dropped out before receiving their MPA in international public policy and nonprofit management from [[New York University]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://groveatlantic.com/book/freshwater/|title=Freshwater {{!}} Grove Atlantic|language=en|access-date=10 March 2020|archive-date=25 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425055311/https://groveatlantic.com/book/freshwater/|url-status=live}}</ref> Emezi briefly started a short-lived anonymous sex blog and a natural-hair blog which gave them little recognition.<ref name=":9" /> In 2014, they entered the MFA creative fiction writing program at Syracuse where they started the draft of their [[debut novel]] ''Freshwater'' after which they attended [[Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie]]'s Farafina Trust Creative Writing Workshop in [[Lagos|Lagos State]], southwestern Nigeria.<ref name=":9" />
Emezi relocated to the [[Appalachia]]n region of the United States when they were 16 years old to attend college.<ref name=":10">{{Cite magazine |last=Tre’vell Anderson |title=Author Akwaeke Emezi Is Writing New Possibilities Into Being |url=https://time.com/collection-post/6047430/akwaeke-emezi-next-generation-leaders/ |access-date=2022-05-24 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524003614/https://time.com/collection-post/6047430/akwaeke-emezi-next-generation-leaders/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":9" /> After college, they enrolled in a veterinary school and dropped out before receiving their MPA in international public policy and nonprofit management from [[New York University]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://groveatlantic.com/book/freshwater/|title=Freshwater {{!}} Grove Atlantic|language=en|access-date=10 March 2020|archive-date=25 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425055311/https://groveatlantic.com/book/freshwater/|url-status=live}}</ref> Emezi briefly started a short-lived anonymous sex blog and a natural-hair blog which gave them little recognition.<ref name=":9" /> In 2014, they entered the MFA creative fiction writing program at [[Syracuse University]] where they started the draft of their [[debut novel]] ''Freshwater'' after which they attended [[Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie]]'s Farafina Trust Creative Writing Workshop in [[Lagos|Lagos State]], southwestern Nigeria.<ref name=":9" />


==Career==
==Career==
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In 2019, ''Freshwater'' was nominated for the [[Women's Prize for Fiction]]—the first time a [[non-binary]] transgender author has been nominated for the prize. Women's prize judge Professor Kate Williams said that the panel did not know Emezi was non-binary when the book was chosen, but she said Emezi was happy to be nominated.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/04/non-binary-trans-author-nominated-for-womens-prize-for-fiction|title=Non-binary trans author nominated for Women's prize for fiction|last=Cain|first=Sian|date=4 March 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-03-27|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327192317/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/04/non-binary-trans-author-nominated-for-womens-prize-for-fiction|url-status=live}}</ref> Non-binary commentator Vic Parsons wrote that the nomination raised uncomfortable questions, asking: "would a non-binary author who was assigned male at birth have been longlisted? I highly doubt it."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/trans-author-womens-fiction-prize-a8810681.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324095056/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/trans-author-womens-fiction-prize-a8810681.html |archive-date=2019-03-24 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Opinion: Be careful before celebrating the recognition of Akwaeke Emezi|date=6 March 2019|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref> After the nomination, it was announced that the Women's Prize Trust was working on new guidelines for [[transgender]], non-binary, and [[genderfluid]] authors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/womens-prize-longlist-akwaeke-emezi-longlist-gender-policy-980156 |title=Women's Prize to formulate new policy around gender criteria |last=Wood |first=Heloise |publisher=TheBookSeller.com |access-date=2020-03-21 |archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129052245/https://www.thebookseller.com/news/womens-prize-longlist-akwaeke-emezi-longlist-gender-policy-980156 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Women's Prize later asked for Emezi's "sex as defined by law" when submitting ''The Death of Vivek Oji'' for inclusion, and Emezi chose to withdraw, calling the requirement [[Transphobia|transphobic]] and specifically exclusionary to trans women.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Flood|first=Alison|date=5 October 2020|title=Akwaeke Emezi shuns Women's prize over request for details of sex as defined 'by law'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/oct/05/akwaeke-emezi-shuns-womens-prize-request-for-details-of-sex-as-defined-by-law|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-26|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005131254/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/oct/05/akwaeke-emezi-shuns-womens-prize-request-for-details-of-sex-as-defined-by-law |archive-date=2020-10-05 }}</ref>
In 2019, ''Freshwater'' was nominated for the [[Women's Prize for Fiction]]—the first time a [[non-binary]] transgender author has been nominated for the prize. Women's prize judge Professor Kate Williams said that the panel did not know Emezi was non-binary when the book was chosen, but she said Emezi was happy to be nominated.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/04/non-binary-trans-author-nominated-for-womens-prize-for-fiction|title=Non-binary trans author nominated for Women's prize for fiction|last=Cain|first=Sian|date=4 March 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-03-27|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327192317/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/04/non-binary-trans-author-nominated-for-womens-prize-for-fiction|url-status=live}}</ref> Non-binary commentator Vic Parsons wrote that the nomination raised uncomfortable questions, asking: "would a non-binary author who was assigned male at birth have been longlisted? I highly doubt it."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/trans-author-womens-fiction-prize-a8810681.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324095056/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/trans-author-womens-fiction-prize-a8810681.html |archive-date=2019-03-24 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Opinion: Be careful before celebrating the recognition of Akwaeke Emezi|date=6 March 2019|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref> After the nomination, it was announced that the Women's Prize Trust was working on new guidelines for [[transgender]], non-binary, and [[genderfluid]] authors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/womens-prize-longlist-akwaeke-emezi-longlist-gender-policy-980156 |title=Women's Prize to formulate new policy around gender criteria |last=Wood |first=Heloise |publisher=TheBookSeller.com |access-date=2020-03-21 |archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129052245/https://www.thebookseller.com/news/womens-prize-longlist-akwaeke-emezi-longlist-gender-policy-980156 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Women's Prize later asked for Emezi's "sex as defined by law" when submitting ''The Death of Vivek Oji'' for inclusion, and Emezi chose to withdraw, calling the requirement [[Transphobia|transphobic]] and specifically exclusionary to trans women.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Flood|first=Alison|date=5 October 2020|title=Akwaeke Emezi shuns Women's prize over request for details of sex as defined 'by law'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/oct/05/akwaeke-emezi-shuns-womens-prize-request-for-details-of-sex-as-defined-by-law|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-26|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005131254/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/oct/05/akwaeke-emezi-shuns-womens-prize-request-for-details-of-sex-as-defined-by-law |archive-date=2020-10-05 }}</ref>


Emezi's second novel and first [[Young adult fiction|young adult]] novel ''[[Pet (novel)|Pet]]'', released on 10 September 2019, is about a transgender teenager named Jam living in a world where adults refuse to acknowledge the existence of monsters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/586483/pet-by-akwaeke-emezi/|title=Pet by Akwaeke Emezi: 9780525647072 {{!}} PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books|website=PenguinRandomhouse.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-10|archive-date=14 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014222842/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/586483/pet-by-akwaeke-emezi/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Bitter (novel)|Bitter]]'', the prequel to ''Pet'' was released in February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=IBEH |first=CHUKWUEBUKA |date=16 August 2021 |title=Akwaeke Emezi Announces New YA Fantasy Novel – Biter |url=https://brittlepaper.com/2021/08/akwaeke-emezis-announces-new-ya-novel-titled-bitter/ |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=[[Brittle paper]] |archive-date=7 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707125148/https://brittlepaper.com/2021/08/akwaeke-emezis-announces-new-ya-novel-titled-bitter/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Berglind |first=Natalie |date=2022 |title=Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi (review) |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/845209 |journal=Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books |volume=75 |issue=6 |pages=187 |doi=10.1353/bcc.2022.0061 |issn=1558-6766}}</ref>
Emezi's second novel and first [[Young adult fiction|young adult]] novel ''[[Pet (novel)|Pet]]'', released on 10 September 2019, is about a transgender teenager named Jam living in a world where adults refuse to acknowledge the existence of monsters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/586483/pet-by-akwaeke-emezi/|title=Pet by Akwaeke Emezi: 9780525647072 {{!}} PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books|website=PenguinRandomhouse.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-10|archive-date=14 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014222842/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/586483/pet-by-akwaeke-emezi/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Bitter (novel)|Bitter]]'', the prequel to ''Pet'', was released in February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=IBEH |first=CHUKWUEBUKA |date=16 August 2021 |title=Akwaeke Emezi Announces New YA Fantasy Novel – Biter |url=https://brittlepaper.com/2021/08/akwaeke-emezis-announces-new-ya-novel-titled-bitter/ |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=[[Brittle paper]] |archive-date=7 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707125148/https://brittlepaper.com/2021/08/akwaeke-emezis-announces-new-ya-novel-titled-bitter/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Berglind |first=Natalie |date=2022 |title=Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi (review) |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/845209 |journal=Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books |volume=75 |issue=6 |pages=187 |doi=10.1353/bcc.2022.0061 |issn=1558-6766}}</ref>


Emezi signed a two-book deal with [[Riverhead Books]]. The first, ''[[The Death of Vivek Oji]]'', came out on 4 August 2020 and was a [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''New York Times'' best seller]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi: 9780525541608 {{!}} PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/604152/the-death-of-vivek-oji-by-akwaeke-emezi/|access-date=2020-09-20|website=PenguinRandomhouse.com|language=en-US|archive-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102181600/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/604152/the-death-of-vivek-oji-by-akwaeke-emezi/|url-status=live}}</ref> The second is a memoir entitled ''[[Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir]]''.<ref name="time-27may2021">{{cite magazine |last1=Anderson |first1=Tre'vell |title=Akwaeke Emezi Is Writing New Possibilities Into Being |url=https://time.com/collection/next-generation-leaders/6047430/akwaeke-emezi-next-generation-leaders/ |access-date=9 June 2021 |magazine=Time |date=27 May 2021 |archive-date=6 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606225211/https://time.com/collection/next-generation-leaders/6047430/akwaeke-emezi-next-generation-leaders/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Emezi signed a two-book deal with [[Riverhead Books]]. The first, ''[[The Death of Vivek Oji]]'', came out on 4 August 2020 and was a [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''New York Times'' best seller]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi: 9780525541608 {{!}} PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/604152/the-death-of-vivek-oji-by-akwaeke-emezi/|access-date=2020-09-20|website=PenguinRandomhouse.com|language=en-US|archive-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102181600/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/604152/the-death-of-vivek-oji-by-akwaeke-emezi/|url-status=live}}</ref> The second is a memoir entitled ''[[Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir]]''.<ref name="time-27may2021">{{cite magazine |last1=Anderson |first1=Tre'vell |title=Akwaeke Emezi Is Writing New Possibilities Into Being |url=https://time.com/collection/next-generation-leaders/6047430/akwaeke-emezi-next-generation-leaders/ |access-date=9 June 2021 |magazine=Time |date=27 May 2021 |archive-date=6 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606225211/https://time.com/collection/next-generation-leaders/6047430/akwaeke-emezi-next-generation-leaders/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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Emezi has written and directed short films, including ''Hey Celestial'' and ''Ududeagu''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Akwaeke Emezi |url=https://www.blackwomendirectors.co/library/akwaeke-emezi |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Black Women Directors |language=en-US |archive-date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430175108/https://www.blackwomendirectors.co/library/akwaeke-emezi |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Ududeagu'' won the Experimental Short Audience Award at the 2014 edition of the [[BlackStar Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Shadow and Act |title=2014 BlackStar Film Festival Award Winners – 'Evolution of a Criminal,' 'Dreams Are Colder Than Death' |url=https://shadowandact.com/2014-blackstar-film-festival-award-winners-evolution-of-a-criminal-dreams-are-colder-than-death |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Shadow and Act |language=en |archive-date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430175107/https://shadowandact.com/2014-blackstar-film-festival-award-winners-evolution-of-a-criminal-dreams-are-colder-than-death |url-status=live }}</ref>
Emezi has written and directed short films, including ''Hey Celestial'' and ''Ududeagu''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Akwaeke Emezi |url=https://www.blackwomendirectors.co/library/akwaeke-emezi |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Black Women Directors |language=en-US |archive-date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430175108/https://www.blackwomendirectors.co/library/akwaeke-emezi |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Ududeagu'' won the Experimental Short Audience Award at the 2014 edition of the [[BlackStar Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Shadow and Act |title=2014 BlackStar Film Festival Award Winners – 'Evolution of a Criminal,' 'Dreams Are Colder Than Death' |url=https://shadowandact.com/2014-blackstar-film-festival-award-winners-evolution-of-a-criminal-dreams-are-colder-than-death |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Shadow and Act |language=en |archive-date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430175107/https://shadowandact.com/2014-blackstar-film-festival-award-winners-evolution-of-a-criminal-dreams-are-colder-than-death |url-status=live }}</ref>


In 2019, it was announced that Emezi will write and executive produce the TV series adaptation of their novel ''Freshwater'' for [[FX Networks|FX]] alongside Tamara P. Carter, to be produced by [[FX Productions]] with Kevin Wandell and Lindsey Donahue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=22 May 2019 |title=FX to Develop Series Adaptation of Akwaeke Emezi's 'Freshwater' With Tamara P. Carter (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/akwaeke-emezi-freshwater-fx-series-tamara-p-carter-exclusive-1203223781/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=18 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618141021/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/akwaeke-emezi-freshwater-fx-series-tamara-p-carter-exclusive-1203223781/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Simon |first=Jordan |title='Freshwater': FX Developing Series Adaptation Based On Akwaeke Emezi's Acclaimed Debut Novel |url=https://shadowandact.com/freshwater-fx-developing-series-adaptation-based-on-akwaeke-emezis-acclaimed-debut-novel |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Shadow and Act |language=en |archive-date=19 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819171636/https://shadowandact.com/freshwater-fx-developing-series-adaptation-based-on-akwaeke-emezis-acclaimed-debut-novel |url-status=live }}</ref> As of April 2024 there has been no publicized progress on this project.
In 2019, it was announced that Emezi will write and executive produce the TV series adaptation of their novel ''Freshwater'' for [[FX Networks|FX]] alongside Tamara P. Carter, to be produced by [[FX Productions]] with Kevin Wandell and Lindsey Donahue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=22 May 2019 |title=FX to Develop Series Adaptation of Akwaeke Emezi's 'Freshwater' With Tamara P. Carter (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/akwaeke-emezi-freshwater-fx-series-tamara-p-carter-exclusive-1203223781/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=18 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618141021/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/akwaeke-emezi-freshwater-fx-series-tamara-p-carter-exclusive-1203223781/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Simon |first=Jordan |title='Freshwater': FX Developing Series Adaptation Based On Akwaeke Emezi's Acclaimed Debut Novel |url=https://shadowandact.com/freshwater-fx-developing-series-adaptation-based-on-akwaeke-emezis-acclaimed-debut-novel |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Shadow and Act |language=en |archive-date=19 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819171636/https://shadowandact.com/freshwater-fx-developing-series-adaptation-based-on-akwaeke-emezis-acclaimed-debut-novel |url-status=live }}</ref>


In 2023, Emezi ventured into rap music, releasing their first single "Banye".<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 August 2023 |title=Author Akwaeke Emezi Makes Their Music Debut |url=https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/akwaeke-emezi-afropunk-performance |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=W Magazine |language=en |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903033509/https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/akwaeke-emezi-afropunk-performance |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Author Turned Rapper: After Publishing 7 Books, Akwaeke Emezi Releases Rap Single |url=https://brittlepaper.com/2023/05/akwaeke-emezis-rap-music-video-will-blow-your-mind-watch-here/ |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=brittlepaper.com |archive-date=16 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216041442/https://brittlepaper.com/2023/05/akwaeke-emezis-rap-music-video-will-blow-your-mind-watch-here/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2024, Emezi released their debut EP ''Stop Dying, You Were Very Expensive.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Listen to Akwaeke Emezi's Stunning Debut EP Now! |url=https://brittlepaper.com/2024/03/listen-to-akwaeke-emezis-stunning-debut-ep-now/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=brittlepaper.com |archive-date=20 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320064936/https://brittlepaper.com/2024/03/listen-to-akwaeke-emezis-stunning-debut-ep-now/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2023, Emezi ventured into rap music, releasing their first single "Banye".<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 August 2023 |title=Author Akwaeke Emezi Makes Their Music Debut |url=https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/akwaeke-emezi-afropunk-performance |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=W Magazine |language=en |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903033509/https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/akwaeke-emezi-afropunk-performance |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Author Turned Rapper: After Publishing 7 Books, Akwaeke Emezi Releases Rap Single |url=https://brittlepaper.com/2023/05/akwaeke-emezis-rap-music-video-will-blow-your-mind-watch-here/ |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=brittlepaper.com |archive-date=16 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216041442/https://brittlepaper.com/2023/05/akwaeke-emezis-rap-music-video-will-blow-your-mind-watch-here/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2024, Emezi released their debut EP ''Stop Dying, You Were Very Expensive.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Listen to Akwaeke Emezi's Stunning Debut EP Now! |url=https://brittlepaper.com/2024/03/listen-to-akwaeke-emezis-stunning-debut-ep-now/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=brittlepaper.com |archive-date=20 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320064936/https://brittlepaper.com/2024/03/listen-to-akwaeke-emezis-stunning-debut-ep-now/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
Emezi identifies as [[Non-binary gender|non-binary]] [[transgender]]. They use the pronouns [[Singular they|they/them/theirs]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bausells|first=Marta|date=21 February 2018|title=The Nonbinary Author Centering African Narratives Erased by Colonialism|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/neq4mq/akwaeke-emezi-freshwater-book-interview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628232943/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/neq4mq/akwaeke-emezi-freshwater-book-interview|archive-date=28 June 2023|access-date=|website=Vice|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Emezi|first=Akwaeke|date=19 January 2018|title=Transition|url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/writer-and-artist-akwaeke-emezi-gender-transition-and-ogbanje.html|access-date=2020-03-10|website=The Cut|language=en-us|archive-date=30 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530091119/https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/writer-and-artist-akwaeke-emezi-gender-transition-and-ogbanje.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They experience [[Multiplicity (psychology)|multiplicity]] and consider themself an [[ogbanje]].<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Whitehouse|first=Matthew|date=24 December 2018|title=akwaeke emezi: the 'freshwater' author standing on the edge and claiming it as central|url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/d3bjyz/akwaeke-emezi-freshwater-adama-jalloh|access-date=2021-08-19|website=i-D|language=en|archive-date=19 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819184524/https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/d3bjyz/akwaeke-emezi-freshwater-adama-jalloh|url-status=live}}</ref> They experienced their first personality split when they were 16, a week after moving to the United States.<ref name=":9" /> They have written about their experience of undergoing [[gender confirmation surgery]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Emezi |first=Akwaeke |date=19 January 2018 |title=Transition |url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/writer-and-artist-akwaeke-emezi-gender-transition-and-ogbanje.html |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=The Cut |language=en-us |archive-date=30 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530091119/https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/writer-and-artist-akwaeke-emezi-gender-transition-and-ogbanje.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Emezi identifies as [[Non-binary gender|non-binary]] [[transgender]]. They use [[Singular they|they/them]] pronouns.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bausells|first=Marta|date=21 February 2018|title=The Nonbinary Author Centering African Narratives Erased by Colonialism|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/neq4mq/akwaeke-emezi-freshwater-book-interview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628232943/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/neq4mq/akwaeke-emezi-freshwater-book-interview|archive-date=28 June 2023|access-date=|website=Vice|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Emezi|first=Akwaeke|date=19 January 2018|title=Transition|url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/writer-and-artist-akwaeke-emezi-gender-transition-and-ogbanje.html|access-date=2020-03-10|website=The Cut|language=en-us|archive-date=30 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530091119/https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/writer-and-artist-akwaeke-emezi-gender-transition-and-ogbanje.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They experience [[Multiplicity (psychology)|multiplicity]] and consider themself an [[ogbanje]].<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Whitehouse|first=Matthew|date=24 December 2018|title=akwaeke emezi: the 'freshwater' author standing on the edge and claiming it as central|url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/d3bjyz/akwaeke-emezi-freshwater-adama-jalloh|access-date=2021-08-19|website=i-D|language=en|archive-date=19 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819184524/https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/d3bjyz/akwaeke-emezi-freshwater-adama-jalloh|url-status=live}}</ref> They experienced their first personality split when they were 16, a week after moving to the United States.<ref name=":9" /> They have written about their experience of undergoing [[gender confirmation surgery]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Emezi |first=Akwaeke |date=19 January 2018 |title=Transition |url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/writer-and-artist-akwaeke-emezi-gender-transition-and-ogbanje.html |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=The Cut |language=en-us |archive-date=30 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530091119/https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/writer-and-artist-akwaeke-emezi-gender-transition-and-ogbanje.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


== Awards and nominations==
== Awards and nominations==
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|{{Won}}
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tor.com |date=2019-10-25 |title=Announcing the 2019 Nommo Award Winners |url=https://reactormag.com/announcing-the-2019-nommo-award-winners/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Reactor |language=en-US}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tor.com |date=2019-10-25 |title=Announcing the 2019 Nommo Award Winners |url=https://reactormag.com/announcing-the-2019-nommo-award-winners/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Reactor |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
!2022
|''[[Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir]]''
|[[Stonewall Awards|Stonewall Award]]
|Israel Fishman Nonfiction Award
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stonewall Book Awards List {{!}} Rainbow Roundtable |url=https://www.ala.org/rrt/award/stonewall/honored#2022 |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=www.ala.org |language=en}}</ref>
|}
|}


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* {{Cite book |last=Emezi |first=Akwaeke |title=The Death of Vivek Oji: A Novel |title-link=The Death of Vivek Oji |publisher=[[Riverhead Books]] |year=2020 |isbn=9780525541608 |location=New York |author-mask=2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Emezi |first=Akwaeke |title=The Death of Vivek Oji: A Novel |title-link=The Death of Vivek Oji |publisher=[[Riverhead Books]] |year=2020 |isbn=9780525541608 |location=New York |author-mask=2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Emezi |first=Akwaeke |title=[[You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty|You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty: A Novel]] |publisher=[[Atria Books]] |year=2022 |isbn=9781982188702 |location=New York |author-mask=2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Emezi |first=Akwaeke |title=[[You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty|You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty: A Novel]] |publisher=[[Atria Books]] |year=2022 |isbn=9781982188702 |location=New York |author-mask=2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Emezi |first=Akwaeke |title=Little Rot: A Novel |title-link=Little Rot: A novel |publisher=[[Riverhead Books]] |year=2024 |isbn=9780525541639 |location=New York |author-mask=2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Emezi |first=Akwaeke |title=Little Rot: A Novel |title-link=Little Rot |publisher=[[Riverhead Books]] |year=2024 |isbn=9780525541639 |location=New York |author-mask=2}}


===Young adult novels===
===Young adult novels===
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[[Category:Malaysian people of Sri Lankan Tamil descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Sri Lankan Tamil descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Tamil descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Tamil descent]]
[[Category:New York University alumni]]
[[Category:Syracuse University alumni]]
[[Category:Stonewall Book Award winners]]

Latest revision as of 16:39, 3 November 2024

Akwaeke Emezi
Emezi in 2018
Emezi in 2018
Born (1987-06-06) 6 June 1987 (age 37)
Umuahia, Abia, Nigeria[1]
OccupationWriter, video artist
NationalityNigerian
EducationNew York University (MPA)
Syracuse University (MFA)
GenreFantasy, romance
Years active2017–present
Notable worksFreshwater
Pet
The Death of Vivek Oji
Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir
Website
www.akwaeke.com

Akwaeke Emezi is a Nigerian fiction writer and video artist, best known for their novels Freshwater, Pet, and their New York Times bestselling novel The Death of Vivek Oji.[2] Emezi is a generalist who writes speculative fiction, romance, memoir, and poetry for both young adults and adults with mostly LGBT themes. Their work has earned them several awards and nominations including the Otherwise Award and Commonwealth Short Story Prize. In 2021, Time featured them as a Next Generation Leader.[3]

Early life and education

[edit]

Akwaeke Emezi was born in Umuahia, the capital city of Abia State, southeastern Nigeria in 1987 to an Igbo Nigerian father, and a mother who was the daughter of Sri Lankan Tamil immigrants living in Malaysia.[4] Emezi grew up in Aba.[5] Emezi started reading fantasy books and with their sister Yagazie[6] used storytelling to escape the riots, dictatorship, and dangerous reality of their childhoods.[7] Emezi was a "voracious" reader during childhood and they began writing short stories when they were five years old.[8][9]

Emezi relocated to the Appalachian region of the United States when they were 16 years old to attend college.[3][4] After college, they enrolled in a veterinary school and dropped out before receiving their MPA in international public policy and nonprofit management from New York University.[10] Emezi briefly started a short-lived anonymous sex blog and a natural-hair blog which gave them little recognition.[4] In 2014, they entered the MFA creative fiction writing program at Syracuse University where they started the draft of their debut novel Freshwater after which they attended Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Farafina Trust Creative Writing Workshop in Lagos State, southwestern Nigeria.[4]

Career

[edit]

Emezi's debut novel Freshwater tells the semi-autobiographical story of the protagonist, Ada, who is an ogbanje (an Igbo evil spirit). Emezi explores their Igbo heritage's spirituality and gender alongside those of Western construction and invites their audience to think critically about this spirit/body binary.[2][11]

Freshwater received significant critical acclaim[12][13][14] and was longlisted for numerous prestigious awards.[15][16][17][18] Emezi was also recognized as a 2018 National Book Foundation "5 Under 35" honoree.[19]

In 2019, Freshwater was nominated for the Women's Prize for Fiction—the first time a non-binary transgender author has been nominated for the prize. Women's prize judge Professor Kate Williams said that the panel did not know Emezi was non-binary when the book was chosen, but she said Emezi was happy to be nominated.[20] Non-binary commentator Vic Parsons wrote that the nomination raised uncomfortable questions, asking: "would a non-binary author who was assigned male at birth have been longlisted? I highly doubt it."[21] After the nomination, it was announced that the Women's Prize Trust was working on new guidelines for transgender, non-binary, and genderfluid authors.[22] The Women's Prize later asked for Emezi's "sex as defined by law" when submitting The Death of Vivek Oji for inclusion, and Emezi chose to withdraw, calling the requirement transphobic and specifically exclusionary to trans women.[23]

Emezi's second novel and first young adult novel Pet, released on 10 September 2019, is about a transgender teenager named Jam living in a world where adults refuse to acknowledge the existence of monsters.[24] Bitter, the prequel to Pet, was released in February 2022.[25][26]

Emezi signed a two-book deal with Riverhead Books. The first, The Death of Vivek Oji, came out on 4 August 2020 and was a New York Times best seller.[27] The second is a memoir entitled Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir.[28]

Emezi's debut poetry collection Content Warning: Everything was published in April 2022.[29]

In April 2021, Deadline Hollywood announced that Amazon Studios won the right to adapt their debut romance novel You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty into a feature film.[30][31] It was purchased in a high six-figure deal which Deadline called the biggest book deal of the year so far. Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society will develop it alongside Elizabeth Raposo. Emezi will serve as the executive producer.[30]

Other works

[edit]

Emezi has written and directed short films, including Hey Celestial and Ududeagu.[32] Ududeagu won the Experimental Short Audience Award at the 2014 edition of the BlackStar Film Festival.[33]

In 2019, it was announced that Emezi will write and executive produce the TV series adaptation of their novel Freshwater for FX alongside Tamara P. Carter, to be produced by FX Productions with Kevin Wandell and Lindsey Donahue.[34][35]

In 2023, Emezi ventured into rap music, releasing their first single "Banye".[36][37] In March 2024, Emezi released their debut EP Stop Dying, You Were Very Expensive.[38]

Personal life

[edit]

Emezi identifies as non-binary transgender. They use they/them pronouns.[39][40] They experience multiplicity and consider themself an ogbanje.[40][41] They experienced their first personality split when they were 16, a week after moving to the United States.[4] They have written about their experience of undergoing gender confirmation surgery.[42]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Dates Nominated Work Award Category Notes Ref.
2017 — Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice Global Arts Fund Grant Won [43][44]
"Who Is Like God" Commonwealth Short Story Prize Africa Won [45][1]
2018 Freshwater The Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize Nominated [15]
Center for Fiction First Novel Prize — Shortlisted [46]
2019 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence Fiction Longlisted [47]
Aspen Words Literary Prize — Longlisted [48][49]
Nommo Award Novel Won [50][51]
Otherwise Award — Won [52]
PEN/Hemingway Award — Finalist [53][54]
Women's Prize for Fiction — Longlisted [20]
Young Lions Fiction Award — Finalist [55]
Pet National Book Award Young People's Literature Finalist [56]
2020 Walter Dean Myers Award Teen Won [57]
2021 The Death of Vivek Oji Dylan Thomas Prize — Shortlisted [58]
Nommo Award Novel Won [59]
2022 Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir Stonewall Award Israel Fishman Nonfiction Award Won [60]

Bibliography

[edit]

Novels

[edit]
  • —— (2018). Freshwater: A Novel. New York: Grove Press. ISBN 9780802127358.
  • —— (2020). The Death of Vivek Oji: A Novel. New York: Riverhead Books. ISBN 9780525541608.
  • —— (2022). You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty: A Novel. New York: Atria Books. ISBN 9781982188702.
  • —— (2024). Little Rot: A Novel. New York: Riverhead Books. ISBN 9780525541639.

Young adult novels

[edit]

Nonfiction

[edit]

Poetry

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Literary Birthday – 6 June – Akwaeke Emezi". Writers Write. 5 June 2019. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b Mzezewa, Tariro (26 February 2018). "In This Debut Novel, a College Student Hears Voices". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b Tre’vell Anderson. "Author Akwaeke Emezi Is Writing New Possibilities Into Being". Time. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e Binyam, Maya (19 May 2022). "'The Goal Is to Get As Bright As Possible'". Vulture. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Books We Love: Inside The Bubble With Akwaeke Emezi | Death, Sex & Money". WNYC Studios. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  6. ^ Leibovitz, Annie (11 January 2018). "5 Families Who Are Changing The World as We Know It". Vogue. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  7. ^ "39: Akwaeke Emeziwriter and video artist". Mythos. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  8. ^ "A Spirit Born into a Human Body: Talking with Akwaeke Emezi". The Rumpus.net. 21 February 2018. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Akwaeke Emezi: 'I'd read everything – even the cereal box'". the Guardian. 20 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  10. ^ Freshwater | Grove Atlantic. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  11. ^ "In 'Freshwater,' A College Student Learns To Live With Separate Selves". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  12. ^ Waldman, Katy (26 February 2018). "A Startling Début Novel Explores the Freedom of Being Multiple". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  13. ^ Adébáyò, Ayòbámi (15 November 2018). "Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi review – a remarkable debut". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  14. ^ Straight, Susan (16 February 2018). "A dazzling, devastating novel: 'Freshwater' by Akwaeke Emezi". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  15. ^ a b "The Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize". www.bklynlibrary.org. 20 March 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  16. ^ "100 Notable Books of 2018". The New York Times. 19 November 2018. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  17. ^ Waldman, Katy (4 December 2018). "The Best Books of 2018". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  18. ^ "NPR's Book Concierge Our Guide To 2018's Great Reads". apps.npr.org. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  19. ^ Schaub, Michael (24 September 2018). "National Book Foundation unveils this year's '5 Under 35' picks". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 8 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  20. ^ a b Cain, Sian (4 March 2019). "Non-binary trans author nominated for Women's prize for fiction". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
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