Nigerian author, Teju Cole, wins $10k prize for first novel | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Wednesday 7 March 2012

Nigerian author, Teju Cole, wins $10k prize for first novel

Author Teju Cole yesterday won this year’s Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award for a “distinguished” first book of fiction, for his book, Open City.

The 36 year old writer and photographer, will receive $10,000 as prize money.



Written in 2011, the novel, Open City, centers on "Nigerian immigrant Julius, a young graduate student studying psychiatry in New York City, has recently broken up with his girlfriend and spends most of his time dreamily walking around Manhattan. The majority of Open City centers on Julius’ inner thoughts as he rambles throughout the city, painting scenes of both what occurs around him and past events that he can’t help but dwell on. For reasons not altogether clear, Julius’ walks turn into worldwide travel, and he flies first to Europe, where he has an unplanned one-night stand and makes some interesting friends, then to Nigeria, and finally back to New York City. Along the way, he meets many people and often has long discussions with them about philosophy and politics. Brought up in a military school, he seems to welcome these conversations. Upon returning to New York, he meets a young Nigerian woman who profoundly changes the way he sees himself."

49 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mr. Teju, your nose ehhhhhhh.

Anonymous said...

Typical Yoruba nose and I love it abeg! leave the guy alone jare....that nose is sexy.Hopefully he doesnt snore too loudly.Lol!!!

Cherrie_Jo said...

LOL @ the comments about his nose. Abeg where can I get d book in Abuja?
And why are d twitter landladies already famzing d guy? Going on abt hw he's already married or they wud hv snagged him bla bla bla. Mtchew

Angel by fifi said...

Congratulations Teju. Lookin forward to the day my books will be published and applauded all over the world.

Myne said...

Congrats to Teju Cole!

Anonymous said...

Na money now, dem don hear $10k deir ears don stand at attention. Snag ko,snag ni.

winnie said...

hmmm,nice one keep up the job.as for the nose i comment my reserve

Anonymous said...

You guys are laughing at his nose meanwhile, he has been recognised internationally for his work. Make una dey there with your own perfect noses and poverty stricken lives. Oshi o da!!

Anonymous said...

Off to amazon.com to get my copy. Well dome Mr. Cole! "More ink to your pen"!!!

Anonymous said...

I have that nose as well and i love it! Is he really married ? See me already day dreaming of meeting him in New York! lol

Anonymous said...

Pls I need a review of his novel EVERYDAY FOR THE THIEF, anyone read it yet? Plssssss.

Anonymous said...

Thank God a Yoruba person as done something gud. Yinka

Anonymous said...

This is what am talking about, a yoruba guy making us proud out Τ̣̣ђёre. More ink to your pen Teju. More to come
....Olusegun

Anonymous said...

@ anon 7:25 pm Oshi o da!! to you too. Abeg if na your nose comment. If no be your nose go hug transformer. Do you know if the nose is what makes him sexy. Be open minded and stop drawing conclusions about other peoples comments. Oshi o da!! too.
To top anon 6:32 pm's comment - Mr. Teju, your nose ehhhhhhh, it makes anon 7:25 pm want to hug transformer. Gbam.

sexy little things said...

anon dat said-"Make una dey there with your own perfect noses and poverty stricken lives. Oshi o da!! " kai God will bless you ehn u took it outta ma mouth.we always miss it in Nigeria.we r to be proud of him yet nose talk.smh.he is the newest millionare now.close to 2m i see new baby mama's checking ovulation dates.hehehe

pegomay said...

Teju! Chineke! no wonder on twitter one can see only a side shot! your nose is HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE! Bleh

Anonymous said...

I pity on these idiots who laugh at people. Bring out your pictures, let's see it...
Congrats, Teju. Where can I get the book?
You are a fineboy, and smart don't mind the haters

Anonymous said...

Awon Ibo must hate ni sha...
Whether u be from Edo, Niger Delta, all na Ibo for Yoruba land. This is to answer Madam Alicia, Miss Ignorant.

Ibo's back to ya village

Anonymous said...

I wonder if sumt pple tink @all b4 openin deir gutter mouth,jst imagin smh,abeg tell dem o,mumus talkn abt hw big his nose is,wat av u all achieved wit ur perfect nose,idiots

*ajalahtravel* said...

The self haters don arrive. Na only dem dey curse their own people nose, na only dem dey curse their own people skin colour, na only dem dey curse their own people hair and all this na to show say dem wan resemble their slave/colonial masters. If una no like unasef, make una no project am to another person.

Ofilispeaks.com said...

Congrats man! Make Nigeria proud =)

Anonymous said...

na wa o! i don't understand why people are abusing the poor boy as if them fine pass am! mtchewww...what did he do to u other than give us a reason to be proud Nigerians! abeg Teju congrats jor!!! all the best on your next novel, cuz i know u ain't just stopping at one! lol
Z

Miss Pepeye said...

@ Anon 9.06pm, Everyday for the thief is so witty and i related to it well, well. Pls, try and get a copy. You'll laugh at how funny the Nigerian characters are.

diamondacious said...

Why are u guys always pin pointing d culture of a person I believe its wrong as we r one nigeria! Whether yoruba or igbo we shld be proud of him! Weldone teju!

Alicia says... said...

Anonymous 10:02 LOL. you call me ignorant yet you said anyone that is not Yoruba in your eyes is Igbo. SEE HYPOCRISY TO THE FULLEST. and why the F**K are you calling my name on this post when i didn't even comment? SEE OBSESSION!

Anonymous said...

Welldone!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! I hope he uses the after-tax proceeds to get himself a nose job.

Tivo said...

Lafter wan kill me for my bed o. Its like some people don't even read, dey just look @ picture and comment dere reserve (insert-ROTFL). Bros Teju has made us proud!! His nose is also in our face! Lev peeps and dere opinion abeg! We shall talk De Book and talk De Nose!! Amen!!

Anonymous said...

Congrats!..keep up the good work!

Anonymous said...

@ Anon 12;32pm

what about you use your aftertax proceeds to fix your fucking brain bcos it's dead. He has a big nose, so what? His girl is obviously not complaining, so shut your dirty mouths.

Anonymous said...

LMAO @ new baby mamas checkn ovulation dates!!!I can't stop lafn!rotflmao...GEEZ!!!naija pple get mouth sha.lmaoooooo....TONI

Anonymous said...

Was dt really necessary...like really?even if u were joking...haba!

Anonymous said...

Congrats to him man. THats the writers dream- recognition for ones work.

Anonymous said...

please where can i get the book in Lagos.

PD said...

people shouting nose cant even achieve half of what he has achieved...........using the nose to cover der own shortcomings.....well....newsflash....like chigurl says*you are busy dreaming while ur mates are hustling.....u are gonna be a weisttttt!

Anonymous said...

If anyone making comments about his nose can create a person, then comment away but if not, then examine yourself. God created him in his image so take it up with God.

Anonymous said...

But una can like to take panadol for anoda man's headache O.Ahn ahn!Kilode!!!The nose joke is JUST A JOKE!!!Why are u all taking offence;abi na so una nose be?Insecure bunch!

Anonymous said...

While you guys are going back and forth on the nose issue, the guy is getting ready to make more millions and churn out wonderful books..*smh*Hep

Chikaka said...

Well done!

Jam-Jam said...

Nigerians must be among the most ill-mannered people in the world. Some of them do not even know that it is immoral and rude to tell someone you don't know that he has horrible nose. Who the hell are they?

I think Teju looks Ok. Nigerians are only after what they see, no wonder there is no progress in the country. Useless people. Get some moral education.

In the UK, we have to live with some rude Nigerians everyday. All they do is laugh at people and talk about them so that they can hear... We humbly PRAY for their deportation back to the bush where they belong ASAP. Amen!

Anonymous said...

'Open City' was written in simple English by a writer who took his time to write. He did not rush it at all. All the characters fell into place beautifully.

The writer has studied several writers and came up with his own voice. We followed him from his old NEXT column on Creative Writing, where he mentored younger writers. He will win more awards for this book. Trust me!

Anonymous said...

congrats bro you are talking the talk and walking the walk abeg make una leave the bobo nose ooo the yabis come plenty tooo much let us 1st congratulate him and leave his nose biko ooo

Anonymous said...

@ Alicia I am calling u because I knw u will be here to see it. You dump fuck. I know how obsessed u are with Yoruba's thatt's why I left the comment here for you to see.
And again the Opposite of Yoruba is Edo, Niger Deltan and Ibo, all na same, same. Ode.

Alicia says... said...

LOL, and where in ANY of my comments do you see me obsessed with Yorubas? or is it because I'm a PROUD IGBO GIRL and DEFEND Igbos when necessary that i am now obsessed with Yorubas? like I said, the opposite of Yoruba is NOT Igbo. i dont give a flying fuck, i just comment when necessary. go through to any of my comments and tell me where I have EVER been "obsessed" with Yorubas. Dumbass, you wish, keep living in that deluded mind of yours that I'm obsessed with your people. LMAOOOOO. #NEXT PLEASE.

Alicia says... said...

and keep exposing your ignorance to the world. its no news that a lot of your folks liken anyone who is not Yoruba to be from the east. mtcheww.

Professor X said...

How does a post which is meant to make all Nigerians proud degenerate into a tribal feud? How? Only God will help u lame lot. Congratulations Teju Cole. More ink to ur beautiful pen.

Anonymous said...

My dear readers, abeg wetin do τ̣̣ђё nose? I think you all commenting negatively about τ̣̣ђё nose should stop and realise that we Africans are τ̣̣ђё 'big nose' people. That ΐƨ Ђδω we are created. Let's stop hating/yabbing ourselves abeg. He ΐƨ okay in ♍a̶̲̥̅̊ opinion, I daresay he ΐƨ a fine dude. Please let's try τ̲̅ǿ see τ̣̣ђё beauty in others and come τ̲̅ǿ terms with our big African nose. Back τ̲̅ǿ τ̣̣ђё main topic, τ̣̣ђё guy ΐƨ brilliant author and won A̶̲̥̅n award, abeg make we happy Ƒσя τ̣̣ђё guy.

Anonymous said...

You must not be Nigerian to liken Edoans to Igbos. Actually, an Edo person can pass for a yoruba. You can't miss the striking similarity in their physical and ethnic characteristics.

Anonymous said...

@ Anon March 8, 2012 8:32 PM, Yes you are right....but don't forget that in Nigeria, we have to live with some rude Europeans everyday who feel that they are Kings in tombo clothing. smmmmmmmmmhhhhhhhh look at you feeling like a Turkey about to be fried for thanksgiving dinner. (don't you know that you are using a very bad example to justify a bad gist).

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