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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elnathan John
Picture of Elnathan John
Born1982 (age 43–44)
Kaduna, Nigeria
Alma materAhmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
OccupationsWriter (English, Hausa)
Notable workBorn on a Tuesday, Be(com)ing Nigerian
AwardsBetty Trask Award

Elnathan John (born 1982) is a Nigerian novelist, satirist and lawyer whose stories have twice been shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing.[1]

Career

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Elnathan John was born in Kaduna, in north-west Nigeria, in 1982.[2] He attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the Nigerian Law School, where he obtained law degrees.[3]

His short story Bayan Layi, published in Per Contra, was shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2013.[4] He was shortlisted again for the Caine Prize in 2015 for his short story Flying.[5]

His writing has been published in The Economist, The Guardian, Per Contra, Hazlitt, ZAM Magazine, Evergreen Review, and Chimurenga's The Chronic.[6]

John's first novel, Born on a Tuesday[7][8] was published in 2016 by Cassava Republic Press in 2015 and in the US by Grove Atlantic.[9][2][10] Born on a Tuesday was shortlisted in September 2016 for the NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature, Africa's largest literary award[11] it won a Betty Trask Award.[12] Translated into French as Né un mardi by Céline Schwaller, it received the Les Afriques prize in 2019.[13]

His second book, Be(com)ing Nigerian, A Guide, a collection of satirical pieces, was published by Cassava Republic Press in 2019.[14]

His third book, a graphic novel,[15] was published by Cassava Republic Press in November 2019.[16] The book is illustrated by Alaba Onajin.[17]

Elnathan John is a Civitella Ranieri Fellow.[18] He writes a weekly satirical column for the Sunday Trust Newspaper[19] and speaks regularly on Nigerian literature, media and politics. He is one of the judges of the 2019 Man Booker International Prize.[20]

Controversy

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In a 2013 interview with Boston Review, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie referred to John, a Caine Prize for African Writing nominee, as "one my boys," a remark that generated discussion within literary circles.[21] In response, John published a satirical essay titled The Consequences of Loving Ngozi.[22]

In 2016, John and Binyavanga Wainaina engaged in a public exchange on social media regarding Adichie. The dispute attracted attention within African literary communities and prompted Ainehi Edoro, founder of Brittle Paper, to publish a commentary calling for an end to the feud.[23]

Awards and listings

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Bibliography

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References

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  1. ↑ "Previously Shortlisted". The Caine Prize for African Writing. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  2. 1 2 Kellaway, Kate (3 April 2016). "Elnathan John: 'I want to show that things are never simple'". The Observer.
  3. ↑ "#RA_top50 | Top 50 Social Media Personalities & Brands To Follow In Nigeria", Reports Afrique News, 25 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "The Caine Prize for African Writing". Msafiri. September 1, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Sixteenth Caine Prize for African writing shortlist announced". The Caine Prize. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "How to walk through a Berlin park". The Economist. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  7. ↑ Unigwe, Chika (28 April 2016). "Born on a Tuesday by Elnathan John review – a compelling debut set in northern Nigeria". The Guardian.
  8. ↑ Rocco, Fiammetta (1 July 2016). "Growing Up in Radicalized Nigeria: A New Novel Shows the Gritty Reality". New York Times Book Review.
  9. ↑ Born on a Tuesday by Elnathan John. Retrieved 11 July 2016. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  10. ↑ Times, Premium (November 8, 2015). "Elnathan John's debut novel out November 12". Premium Times. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Nigeria LNG Ltd". Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Hurston/Wright Foundation | Elnathan John". Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  13. ↑ Afrolivresque (June 22, 2019). "Elnathan John est le lauréat du Prix Les Afriques 2019 !". Afrolivresque. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Be(com)ing Nigerian". Archived from the original on 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  15. ↑ "On Ajayi Crowther Street". The Guardian. March 21, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  16. ↑ "On Ajayi Crowther Street".
  17. ↑ "Amazon.com: On Ajayi Crowther Street eBook : John, Elnathan, Onajin, Alaba: Kindle Store". www.amazon.com. Archived from the original on 2022-03-21. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  18. ↑ "Fellows - Civitella Ranieri". www.civitella.org. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  19. ↑ "Because I care". Daily Trust. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  20. ↑ "Man Booker International Prize 2019".
  21. ↑ BellaNaija.com (2013-07-17). ""Elnathan Was One of My Boys at the Workshop" | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's comments on 2013 Caine Prize in Boston Reader interview cause a Stir!". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
  22. ↑ "Elnathan John lets go on Chimamanda: "The consequences of loving Ngozi"". YNaija. 2013-07-15. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
  23. ↑ "Binyavanga and Elnathan, Can We Put an End to This Feuding?". Brittle Paper. 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
  24. ↑ "The Caine prize for African writing shortlist – in pictures". The Guardian. 2013-07-05. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  25. ↑ Ibekwe, Nicholas (2015-05-05). "2 Nigerians shortlisted for 2015 Caine Prize for African Writing". Premium Times. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  26. ↑ "11 authors shortlisted for The Nigerian Prize For Literature 2016". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 2016-07-17. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  27. ↑ admin (2017-01-05). "Nine Authors Make Etisalat Prize for Literature 2016 Longlist". This Day. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  28. ↑ "Crowdfunded small-press prize announces inaugural shortlist". the Guardian. 2017-01-11. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  29. ↑ "Previous winners of the Betty Trask Prize and Awards". Society of Authors. July 21, 2018. Archived from the original on May 18, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Morland Writing Scholarships 2017 Winners Announcement". The Miles Morland Foundation. 2017-12-05. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  31. ↑ "Kaduna born Elnathan John wins 2019 Prix Les Afriques". Nigerian Tribune. 17 August 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-08-28. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  32. ↑ Nkwocha, Veronica (2013-05-22). "My Thoughts on Bayan Layi by Elnathan John". Veronica. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  33. ↑ Kola (2013-05-19). "The Children of "Bayan Layi"". ktravula - a travelogue!. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  34. ↑ Guest, Africa in Words (2015-07-02). "Blogging the Caine Prize: Elnathan John's 'Flying'". Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  35. ↑ "El Nathan John Extract". The Caine Prize for African Writing. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
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