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By Henry Akubuiro, Lagos
The Distinguished James Currey Fellowship, 2022/23 and residence in Oxford as an Academic Visitor at the African Studies Centre, University of Oxford, has been awarded to Nigerian writer and academic, Mitterand Okorie, by the Management of the University of Oxford.
The Distinguished James Currey Fellowship is the brainchild of the Oxford-based James Currey Society, in cooperation with the African Studies Centre at the University of Oxford. The James Currey Society was founded by Nigerian writer, filmmaker and publisher, Onyeka Nwelue, who informed the public of Okorie’s appointment on Monday, October 24. The Society is focused on making the works of James Currey known globally and accessible to as many people as possible.
The inaugural James Currey Fellowship was awarded to South-African writer, Stephen Embleton.
Being a member of the James Currey Society offers the artist the chance to participate in both academic and performative workshops held by leading publishers and authors. Members of the James Currey Society undertake research projects about funding publishing and empowering writers.
Mitterand Okorie is a writer, scholar and international development consultant. He holds a PhD in Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies from UKZN, South Africa and studied International Relations at Aberystwyth University, United Kingdom. He is the author of three books: All That Was Bright and Ugly (Fiction), Onyeka Nwelue: A Troubled Life (Non-Fiction) and co-edited the anthology, Wole Soyinka: Encounters With The Grey Maverick.
As a development consultant, Mitterand has worked with international agencies such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Office of the UN Youth Envoy, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ-Nigeria) and the UAE Embassy in South Africa.
In 2019, he co-founded the Johannesburg-based literary and speaking organisation, World Arts Agency PTY, and was the Speaking Agent to the multi-award-winning author, Chigozie Obioma, between June 2020 – May 2021. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Nigeria Abroad Magazine and writes regularly on literature, politics and social justice.
