Bloomsbury to publish Nigerian writer-activist Wole Soyinka's first novel in 48 years

Soyinka is Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature

Soyinka

Bloomsbury Publishing has acquired publishing rights for 'Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth', written by Wole Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature. This is Soyinka first novel in 48 years.

UK and Commonwealth (except Canada and Africa, but including South Africa) and audio rights were bought from Zoe Waldie at RCW on behalf of Melanie Jackson at the Melanie Jackson Agency.

The book will be published on September 28, 2021, according to a press release from the publishing house.

Set in a contemporary version of Nigeria, 'Chronicles From the Land of the Happiest People on Earth' is at once a savagely witty whodunit and a corrosively satirical examination of corruption, both personal and political.

Celebrated engineer, Yoruba royal and life and soul of every party Duyole Pitan-Payne is about to assume his prestigious UN post in New York. However, someone is determined to ensure that he does not make it there. His childhood friend Dr Menka needs to know why, but finds that there are some questions you may not wish to learn the answers to.

From a master storyteller comes a brutally clear-sighted look at the nature of greed, power and the soul of a nation, stated the release.

According to the press release, Paul Baggaley, editor-in-chief of Bloomsbury Publishing, said, "When I was told that Wole Soyinka had written a new novel I was of course excited and intrigued. Once I read it, I was blown away by the vigour, the originality, the wit, the outrage and the compassion. I couldn’t be more proud that Bloomsbury will bring this remarkable and brilliant novel to the widest readership."

Faiza Khan, consulting publisher at Bloomsbury, said, "It is an immense privilege to publish a writer of such profound and humbling humanity and deep political engagement whose work tells universal truths about the machinations of power, and brims with an anger and a compassion that looks deep into the darkness and the resilience of human nature.’"

Born in Abeokuta, Nigeria in 1934, Soyinka is an author, playwright, poet and political activist. His prolific body of work includes debut novel 'The Interpreters' and play 'Death and the King’s Horseman'.

Twice jailed for his criticism of the Nigerian government, Soyinka had destroyed his Green Card when Trump was elected as the US president in 2016.