Nigerian writers remember Pius Adesanmi

Sunday was a bleak one for many Nigerians, particularly writers, when the news of Professor Pius Adesanmi’s death aboard the crashed Ethiopian Airline flight 302 on March 10 filtered through. Many writers took to social media where they expressed their shock. Here, a few give tributes. Pius Adesanmi, who is survived by a wife and […]

Sunday was a bleak one for many Nigerians, particularly writers, when the news of Professor Pius Adesanmi’s death aboard the crashed Ethiopian Airline flight 302 on March 10 filtered through. Many writers took to social media where they expressed their shock. Here, a few give tributes.

Pius Adesanmi, who is survived by a wife and two daughters was known for his books and articles, such as ‘The Wayfarer and Other Poems’ (2001), which won the ANA poetry Prize for that year, ‘You’re not a Country, Africa’ (2011), and ‘Naija No Dey Carry Last’ (2015).

He was born in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. From 2002 to 2005 he was Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature at the Pennsylvania State University, USA. He later joined Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada in 2006 as a Professor of Literature and African studies. Previously, he was a Fellow of the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA) from 1993 to 1997, as well as of the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) in 1998 and 2000.

For many years, Adesanmi maintained a regular column for Premium Times and Sahara Reporters. His writings were often satirical and his targets often included politicians, pastors, and other relevant public figures.

Adesanmi’s awards include a 2017 Canada Bureau of International Education Leadership Award, Penguin Prize for African Writing in the non-fiction category for his book ‘You’re Not a Country, Africa’, and the Association of Nigerian Authors’ Poetry prize for his poetry collection, ‘The Wayfarer and Other Poems.’

Richard Ali

Pius Adesanmi was a moral and intellectual force whose true global influence I never fathomed until his death was announced on Sunday. I felt as if my arm was broken, then I wept when the tributes started coming in like a flood. I had been in a meeting with an older Hausa language writer when my boss called to say he had heard Pius was among the casualties. He knew of our closeness because I had given a copy of ‘Naija No Dey Carry Last’ to him years ago. I worked on that book with Pius and Premium Times, where most of the essays were published. I remember the editing period as a period of learning, of entering the thoughts of this cerebral man who deployed humour as a weapon to clarify our compromises and complicity with Nigeria’s stunted reality. I became close to him just earlier, during the Remi Raji administration of the Association of Nigerian Authors where I served as Publicity Secretary. He gave a Keynote Address at one of our conventions. He had also spoken at the MBA Colloquium in Minna. This was a man of immense intellectual ability and moral force and I know, in a sense, that I will never get over this loss. This loss will shape something vital in me. I pulled over on the expressway and wept, did so several times in the last few days. Pius meant so much to me, to Nigeria and Africa and it breaks me to think of him in past tense. I can only try to do what he did while he lived, and join his wife and daughter in this period of immense grief. Oga Pius, please rest in peace. Your exit has shattered us. But rest, rest now, and watch over us who now have so much to do.

Denja Abdullahi

“The goat has eaten the palm fronds from our heads.” The very tragic news of Pius Adesanmi’s involvement in the Ethiopian Airline that crashed can be likened to that of the news of Obika’s death as announced to his father Ezeulu in the words quoted above from Chinua Achebe’s ‘Arrow of God’. The news was devastating to all those that heard it. He was a very cerebral, innovative, delightful and public-spirited intellectual who was at ease and profound in any discourse he handled or was involved. His intellectual energy and ability to follow everything or person of remarkable interest was awesome.

He was a kindred spirit rooted as one of the forerunners of a literary movement in Nigeria before relocating to the West. He was out there but deeply connected to the everyday happenings at home, which he always historicized and intellectualized.

Pius Adesanmi, this your exit is beyond the threshold of pain and can unhinge many things. The literati, the academia, the African public sphere, your numerous followers across Africa, the world, your family, and many more, will miss you. Adieu, kindred spirit.

Salamatu Sule

Pius Adesanmi’s death is a big shock to Nigeria, Africa and indeed the world. There’s no doubt, the literati has lost a rare gem. He was a mentor to most of us who had the opportunity of tapping from his literary wealth. His book, ‘Naija No Dey Carry Last’ is one I never get tired of reading. He was a good satirist and we will surely miss him dearly.

Abubakar Adam Ibrahim

It is extremely rare to find the combination of intellect, common sense and humility as we had in Prof. Adesanmi. He was erudite and took his rightful place in the great pantheon of learning yet remained humble. Being a diaspora Nigerian, he remained deeply connected to the country and its people and their issues. Someone equated his passing to the loss of a library. I think it equates more to the loss of an entire institution, with its library and faculty as well. He was a troubadour of intellect and travelled the world trading his knowledge and bringing reason to an increasingly senseless world. We are in deep mourning and can’t comprehend yet the enormity of the loss we have suffered. But if it hurts this much, if it is this painful for us who were his friends and mentees, I can’t even begin to imagine how his family feels. Our thoughts and prayers are with them over this monumental loss.

Lola Shoneyin

Shoneyin, who wrote on behalf of the community of Nigerian writers, scholars and journalists, described Prof. Adesanmi as “a public intellectual without peer. He was active on social media where he flagellated the Nigerian ruling class with well thought out interventions, amassing a huge following in the process.

“For many years, Adesanmi maintained a regular column for Premium Times and Sahara Reporters. His writings were often satirical, focusing on the absurd in the Nigerian social and political space. His targets often included politicians, pastors, and other relevant public figures. He spoke truth without fear or favour.

“In September 2015, his scathing piece on the decision of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, to take an underaged wife generated substantial conversation and even elicited a response from the Emir, who responded to Adesanmi by name.

“An award-winning author, he was a highly sought after speaker and facilitator whose expertise and breadth of knowledge was a delight to all who had the pleasure of hearing him speak.

“In 2015, he gave a TED talk titled ‘Africa Is The Forward That The World Needs To Face.’ His talk at the televised The Platform programme, held in Lagos, was a national sensation. Among his many endeavours in a prolific career as a public intellectual, Adesanmi maintained a column on the popular Nigeria Village Square website, and was a long-standing member of the editorial team. He was also a member of the Advisory Board of the Ake Arts & Book Festival.

“Many Nigerian writers had the privilege of knowing Pius Adesanmi for about 25 years, from the moment he burst onto the Ibadan/Lagos literary scene with his creativity, his wit, his love for literary criticism and his infectious laughter. Even then, it was clear that he was special. He was driven, politically astute and he would become one of the most gifted satirists of his generation.”