Melatu Uche Okorie
Born1975 (age 48–49)
Enugu, Nigeria
OccupationWriter
Notable workThis Hostel Life

Melatu Uche Okorie (born 1975) is a Nigerian-born Irish author and member of the Arts Council of Ireland. Her 2018 short story collection, This Hostel Life, was shortlisted for the Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year award at the Irish Book Awards, and adapted into an operatic work by the Irish National Opera.

Early life and education

Melatu Uche Okorie was born in 1975 in Enugu, Nigeria.[1][2] She grew up in a household with her mother and several siblings, and obtained a degree in English before leaving Nigeria.[3] Okorie moved to Ireland in 2006 with her infant daughter and lived in the direct provision system, which was when she began writing.[3][4] Okorie obtained an Mphil in creative writing from Trinity College Dublin and is studying for a PhD in the college of Education.[3]

Writing

In 2009, Okorie won the Metro Éireann Writing Award for the story "Gathering Thoughts".[5] Okorie's first book, This Hostel Life, was published by Skein Press in Ireland in May 2018.[6] The book features an invented Nigerian pidgin English patois.[7] It was launched at the International Literature Festival, where Okorie discussed the migrant experience with Nikesh Shukla.[8] This Hostel Life was bought by Virago Press in 2019,[6] and adapted into an operatic work by the Irish National Opera.[9] Her work has been published in LIT Journal, College Green Magazine, and Dublin: Ten Journeys One Destination, Alms on the Highway.[10]

In 2019, Okorie was interviewed about her writing practice by Laureate for Irish Fiction, Sebastian Barry.[5] The same year, Yes, We Still Drink Coffee! was published. This is a collection of works by female writers including Okorie, Catherine Dunne, Hilary Fannin, Lia Mills and Sheila O'Flanagan who were paired with activists.[11]

Advocacy

Okorie is a board member of the National Network of Migrant Women in Ireland, and is a creative writing workshop facilitator for children and young people.[12]

Awards and recognition

In 2018, This Hostel Life was nominated for the Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year award at the Irish Book Awards.[13] In 2019, Okorie was appointed to the Arts Council.[12][10]

References

  1. ↑ Martín-Ruiz, Sara (June 2017). "Melatu Okorie: An Introduction to Her Work and a Conversation with the Author". Lit: Literature Interpretation Theory. 28 (2): 172–184. doi:10.1080/10436928.2017.1315551.
  2. ↑ "Melatu-Uche Okorie". An Post Irish Book Awards. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 Armstrong, Maggie (3 June 2018). "'Direct provision is like being in an abusive relationship' - Nigerian writer Melatu Uche Okorie on direct provision and racism in Ireland". Independent.ie. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Cashin, Rory (2019). ""I never thought I was black until I got here" - Author Melatu Uche Okorie on Ireland's racial issues". JOE.ie. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Sebastian Barry and Melatu Uche Okorie in conversation". Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTE). 4 February 2019.
  6. 1 2 Chandler, Mark (18 April 2019). "Virago buys Okorie debut from Irish indie Skein Press". The Bookseller. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  7. ↑ Hudson, Kerry (6 September 2019). "This Hostel Life, Melatu Uche Okorie; Refugee Tales III, Herd and Pincus". The Big Issue. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  8. ↑ O’Toole, Gráinne; Okorie, Melatu Uche. "'We as migrants are used to being spoken for, yet these are our experiences'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  9. ↑ Byers, David (28 September 2019). "This Hostel Life review: direct provision explored through often-anguished sounds". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Melatu Uchenna Okorie". Arts Council of Ireland. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  11. ↑ Meredith, Fionola (17 June 2019). "'A jolt to the conscience': women's stories of fighting oppression". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  12. 1 2 "Minister announces new appointments to Arts Council". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "This Hostel Life". An Post Irish Book Awards. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
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