Onyeka

Onyeka Nubia (whose novels are published under the name Onyeka) is a British writer, law lecturer and historian. His books document the lives of Black Britons and his third novel, called The Phoenix, has been awarded the 2009 African Achievers award for Communication and Media for the psychological portrayal of the Black British experience.

Onyeka’s books explore issues about cultural identity, resistance to oppression and the will to succeed in multicultural Britain. His writing is influenced by the teaching of creative writing law and history.

During the last two decades far right parties have made increasing gains in electoral support at the national level in the member-states of the European Union. Onyeka was one of the first Black British authors to talk about this rise in the far right in Britain. Onyeka was also one of the first Black British authors to link self-hatred to black-on-black violence in the UK.

Onyeka was the first Black British author to address the Detroit Public Schools African Child Symposiums (2002). This is an annual event and established a link across continents to for building an educational infrastructure which prepares black children for the real world.

Onyeka has featured in a number of films such as Ma’afa and television programmes dealing with the global African experience.

Writings

Novels

• Waiting to Explode – How to Stay Alive, Narrative Eye (1998) ISBN 0-953318-20-6
• The Black Prince – Leopards in the Temple, Narrative Eye (1999) ISBN 0-953318-24-9
• The Phoenix – Misrule in the Land of Nod, Narrative Eye (2008) ISBN 0-953318-27-3

History

• Blackamoores: Africans in Tudor England, their Presence, Status and Origins, Narrative Eye (2013) ISBN 0-953318-21-4

Plays

• The Great Challenge (1992–1994) - National tour
• The Whirlwind and the Storm (2001) - Cochrane and Shaw Theatres
• Young Othello (2016)

External links

• Black History Month
• Study of African genes