Renowned novelist, Elechi Amadi, dies at 82

Novelist, poet and dramatist Captain Elechi Amadi was a Nigerian author of plays and novels that are generally about African village life, customs, beliefs and religious practices, as they were before contact with the Western world.


Born in Aluu, Port Harcourt, Elechi Amadi died today at the Good Heart hospital, Port Harcourt, River State.

He attended Government College , Umuahia and went to the University college, Ibadan where he bagged a BSc degree in Physics and Mathematics.

He served in the 3rd Marine Commandos of the Nigerian Army. He was first Commissioner for Education in the old Rivers state and also served as Commissioner for Lands and Housing He had several honours to his credit.

He was Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Education and a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria . He was awarded a honorary doctorate degree by the University of Port Harcourt in 2011. He was abducted by unknown gunmen in 2008 and later released after some days in their custody.

He lived in his community, Aluu until his death.

Some of his works include: The Concubine, The Great Ponds, Isiburu, Sunset in Biafra, Dance of Johannesburg, Peppersoup, The Road to Ibadan, The Slave , Estrangement and the Woman of Calabar.