Alhaji Labo Yari (14 April 1942 – 18 March 2023) was a Nigerian writer and founding member of the Association of Nigerian Authors. He wrote Climate of Corruption in 1978, the first English language novel published throughout Northern Nigeria.

Labo Yari
Born(1942-04-14)14 April 1942
Katsina, British Nigeria
Died18 March 2023(2023-03-18) (aged 80)
Katsina, Nigeria
LanguageEnglish
GenreNovels and short stories
Years active1978–2007
Notable awardsLifetime Achievement Award
ChildrenTwo sons and four daughters

Life and career

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Born in Katsina, Yari studied at the London School of Journalism, and between 1966 and 1967 Norwegian literature at the University of Oslo.[1][2] He started his journalistic career in 1962, and later worked for the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and as general manager of the publishing house Gaskiya Corporation.[1][2][3] In 1978, he debuted as a novelist with Climate of Corruption, the first English language novel published in Northern Nigeria, which was a commercial hit.[1][2] In 1982 he was among the five co-founders of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).[1][2] He died at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina on 18 March 2023, at the age of 80.[2][4] At the time of his death he had just finished a new novel, Awaiting Gozo.[2]

Works

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  • Climate of Corruption (1978), Fourth Dimension Publishing Company, Nigeria. ISBN 978-156-014-2.
  • A House in the Dark (1985), Fourth Dimension Publishing Company, Nigeria. ISBN 978-156-148-3.
  • Man of the Moment (1992), Fourth Dimension Publishing Company, Nigeria. ISBN 978-156-289-7.
  • A day without cockcrow and other stories (1999), Informart Publishers, Nigeria. ISBN 978-34855-5-5.
  • Muhamman Dikko, Emir of Katsina and his times: 1865–1944 (2007), Summit Books, Nigeria. ISBN 978-194-464-1.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Tsiga, I.A.; Bhadmus, M.O. (2016). Literature, History and Identity in Northern Nigeria. Safari Books Limited. pp. 226–7. ISBN 9789788431879. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Nigerian author and ANA co-founder Labo Yari dies at 81". New Citizen. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  3. ^ Aliyu, Abba Sani; Jibrin, Ibrahim; Omobowale, Emmanuel Babatunde (28 January 2022). Creative writing, writers and publishing in Northern Nigeria. IFRA-Nigeria. pp. 7, 11. ISBN 979-10-92312-61-4.
  4. ^ "Labo Yari, 'Climate of Corruption' author, dies at 83". TheCable. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.

Further reading

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  • Carey, John (1994). "World literature in review: Nigeria". World Literature Today, Vol. 68, Issue 1, Winter 1994, pp. 194-5.
  • Sheme, Ibrahim (6 June 1997). "Why I do not want to be known: Labo Yari, Northern Nigeria's First English Novelist, Opens up in This His First Interview Ever". New Nigerian, p. 12.
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Labo Yari at Open Library