ABSTRACT
Tony Uchenna Ubesie (1950–1994) may be an unfamiliar name to many literary scholars, teachers, and students on the continent of Africa and beyond who cannot read fiction in Igbo language. Yet, Ubesie is a very important name in contemporary Nigerian literature, and probably the most gifted Igbo writer that ever lived. Author of several successful novels, Ubesie’s distinction as a writer lies in his unrivaled stylistic innovations and thematic realism. This chapter highlights Ubesie’s contributions to the revival and elevation of Igbo literature after decades of virtual eclipse. His art of the Igbo novel makes him the quintessential Igbo language creative writer of the twentieth century.
