The burial of late Nigerian playwright, editor, and literary advocate Friday John Abba has been scheduled for Friday, May 8, 2026, in Zaria, Kaduna State, with a wake to hold on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
The announcement was shared by long-time friend and fellow creative writer, Isaac Slim Charles, who said the information was being made public early due to the short notice so that friends, colleagues, and admirers of the late writer could make arrangements to attend. The wake will hold at Baptist Church, Muchiya, Sabon Gari, Zaria, while the burial will be at the Nigerian Army Barracks, Zaria.
Abba, a former Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors, died on April 28, 2026, after a brief illness.
Born on May 2, 1969, in Kaduna, Abba was named “Friday” because he was born on a Friday, and is being buried on a Friday. Though born in Kaduna, his childhood was spent in Nguru, present-day Yobe State, where he began his education at Kasungula Primary School. He later attended the prestigious Nigerian Military School, Zaria, before studying Computer Science at Kaduna Polytechnic.
Following his military school training, he served briefly as a soldier in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, before transitioning into the corporate sector, where he worked with Nigerian Tobacco Company, later known as British American Tobacco.
Beyond literature, Abba was deeply involved in civic and humanitarian service through Rotary International. He became president of a Rotaract Club at the age of 18 and later rose to become District Rotaract Representative, overseeing more than 100 clubs across 19 states. He subsequently joined the Rotary Club of Zaria-City and served as its president in 2005.
In 2006, he was among 24 individuals selected from across Africa to help fine-tune the protocol establishing the Peace and Security Council of the African Union.
A versatile professional, Abba founded House of Abba Publishing before later establishing Wright Words Consulting, a literary consultancy dedicated to helping writers prepare manuscripts for publication. He also served on the board of the Centre for Community Relief Initiatives (CCRI) as Director of Research and Publications.
Abba’s literary journey began during his student years when he regularly attended meetings of the Creative Writers’ Club at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He went on to serve as editor, vice chairman, and chairman of the Kaduna Writers’ League and later as editor and chairman of the Kaduna State branch of ANA.
He authored the plays Alekwu Night Dance, Eclipsing Ellipsis, and Muted Song, while his debut play Alekwu Dance was runner-up for the 2014 Nigeria Prize for Literature sponsored by Nigeria LNG.
Widely regarded as one of northern Nigeria’s most accomplished literary voices, Abba is remembered not only for his creative works but also for his contributions to mentorship, publishing, public service, and nation-building.
