Mazariyya Books Limited hosted a historic signing ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, for the posthumous publication of “In My Time,” the autobiography of the late Chief Cyprian Ekwensi, MFR.
Thank you for reading this post; don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
The event marked the official signing of the contract for the book’s release. The book captures the personal journey and reflections of one of Africa’s and Nigeria’s most celebrated literary figures. Ekwensi’s works, including “Jagua Nana” and “Burning Grass,” have shaped the nation’s storytelling tradition and inspired generations of readers.
Speaking at the ceremony, the chairman of Mazariyya Books, Ahmed Maiwada, a lawyer, publisher and writer, explained that the event demonstrates to Nigerian writers that their works can remain relevant long after their passing. He promised that the new publication will be widely available and strongly protected against piracy. He also called on the government to reduce the high cost of publishing in Nigeria.
Son of the late author and Chairman/CEO of the Cyprian Ekwensi Foundation, Chiedu Ekwensi, described “In My Time” as an engaging narrative of a young man’s journey through education and life. He notes that the book reveals how “a man is made” and recalls how earlier works like “When Love Whispers” influenced generations. He shared that at a conference, a distinguished participant told him that as a high school student, he and his peers often wrote love letters to their girlfriends after drawing inspiration from Ekwensi’s novels.
“When Love Whispers,” Cyprian’s first published work of fiction, has been out of print for decades. As part of the publishing agreement between Mazariyya Books Limited, Abuja and the Cyprian Ekwensi Foundation, the novella is set to be reissued for the benefit of readers who admire Ekwensi’s work but never had the chance to encounter his earliest fiction.
Prominent writer, Chief Patrick Oguejiofor, expressed his excitement at the ceremony, describing Cyprian Ekwensi as his greatest literary influence. He says that reading Ekwensi’s works, from “An African Night’s Entertainment” to “The Rainmaker,” shaped his path as a writer. He added that “writers don’t die; their works live on.”
Professor Ernest N. Emenyonu, a famous literary critic and writer, edited the biography “In My Time.” It is to be published posthumously by Mazariyya Books Limited, Abuja. His involvement adds weight to the significance of the project.
Ahmed Maiwada stressed that book covers must be imaginative and engaging to attract readers. He rejected the claim that Nigerians do not read, noting that bookshops are always filled with buyers. Both Chiedu and Patrick supported this, highlighting Nigeria as home to one of the largest book markets in Africa.
The themes of “In My Time” trace the early life of Ekwensi, including his train journey to Ibadan for school, his bond with his mother, and the support of the Igbo community in Minna, Niger State. Maiwada recommends the book as a way to “relearn what we have learnt.”
“In My Time” adds to Ekwensi’s long legacy, which began in 1948 with the publication of “When Love Whispers.”
Follow the AkweyaTV channel on WhatsApp: http://bit.ly/3I7mQVx
Or scan the QR code:
