“Chris Abani might be the most courageous writer working right now. There is no subject matter he finds daunting, no challenge he fears. Aside from that, he's stunningly prolific and writes like an angel. If you want to get at the molten heart of contemporary fiction, Abani is the starting point.” — Dave Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

On February 16th the Rollins community will have the honor of welcoming the multi-talented author, poet, essayist and screenwriter Chris Abani to our 2017 Winter With The Writers season.

At 4:00 p.m. in the Suntrust Auditorium, he will be hosting an engaging Master Class session, which everyone is welcome to attend, as well as a reading at 7:30 p.m. in the Bush Auditorium with an anticipated book signing afterward.

Abani holds a captivating presence in the realm of transnational literature, writing searing and vivid works known for focusing in on the political and societal climates of both Nigeria and its diaspora. His fields of interest include African Poetics, World Literature, and Postcolonial and Transnational Theory.

In his heart-wrenching novel, Graceland, he examines the realities of postcolonial Nigeria narrated through the life of Elvis Oke, a teenager who lives in the slums of Lagos and must deal with the takings of a life born into poverty, an unstable political climate, and the reign of American culture.

Another of Abani's prolific works, The Face: Cartography of the Void, is a brief yet powerful extended essay that explores the roots and conceptualizations of identity with poetic prose, grasping universal insight through the examination and contemplation of Abani’s own experiences.

For more information about Abani, his master classes, and the rest of the Winter With The Writers program, please visit the program's website via this link. We hope to see you there!

Written by Maya Kabir