Tuesday, January 21, 2020

NAWRED:30-Charry Ada Onwu-Otuyelu


Charry Ada Onwu-Otuyelu


Chief Charry Ada Onwu-Otuyelu (1953-2017), the author of “Ifeanyi and Obi” and “Triumph of Destiny  ”.

Chief Charry Ada Onwu-Otuyelu hailed from Amaigbo in Imo state She was married to Mr Olusoji Otuyelu and had four children. Her areas of interest include folktales and history. She was a senior fellow at Ebedi Writers Residency founded by Dr. Wale Okediran.

A nurse by profession, Chief Onwu-Otuyelu got her nursing professional qualifications from University Teaching Hospital Ibadan and Maternity Hospital, Lagos. She was an ex-soldier that worked with the Armed Forces Medical Service during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war. She was also one of the early female voices to take the genre of Children’s literature very seriously. Ifeanyi and Obi won the Children’s literature award in 1988. She also featured in famous films like Kongi’s Harvest (by Wole Soyinka), Bisi, Daughter of the River, T.V shows like Village Headmaster, Masquerade, Igbo plays on IBC TV and Radio.

Since her debut creative works in the early 80s, Chief Onwu-Otuyelu branched off into other research areas like history and sociology. After the closure of her clinic and maternity Centre, she was fully active in Imo state politics.

Charry Ada Onwu-Otuyelu, is a former Director at the Imo State council for Arts and culture and one of the founding members of the Association of Nigerian Authors. Chief Ada had once served as the National Auditor of the Association and won various literary awards through her outstanding works written for children.

Her other literary works include: Ada Marries a Palm Tree, Our Grannies Tales, Adobi, Amaigbo Kwenu: History of my town, Catastrophe, One Bad Turn  and Good Morning Mr Kolanut (2009).


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