In a world where queer identity is often met with stigma and silence, Chukwuebuka Ibeh’s debut novel, Blessings, shines a beacon of hope and understanding. This 22-year-old promising writer from Port Harcourt Nigeria is making waves in the literary world with his remarkable achievements.

As a Nigerian in the diaspora, his most recent book, published by Vikings, explores the complexities of growing up queer in Nigeria, a country where same-sex relationships are a taboo. No, don’t get it twisted, the talented writer is not queer.

He studied creative writing under Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Dave Eggers and a host of others. Speaking at a creative writing workshop in 2018, the renowned writer Adiche remarked, “Chukwuebuka Ibeh’s writing has a certain delicacy to it, so wonderfully observant, and so beautiful.”

As a prolific writer, his short stories have been published in respected literary journals like McSweeneys and The New England Review of Books. He has also received numerous awards and recognition for his work, including:

• Finalist for the Gerald Kraak Award and Morland Foundation Scholarship.
•  Runner-up for the 2021 J.F Powers Prize for Fiction.
•  Profiled as one of the “Most Promising New Voices of Nigerian Fiction” in Electric Literature.

Interestingly, Ibeh is also a student on a fully funded MFA program at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, until May 2024.

In a recent interview with Afreada, Ibe revealed not having a clear picture of how his writing journey started.

Also, when asked the inspiration for writing Blessings, he said, “I’ve always wanted to write a story about boarding school in Nigeria. It is such a fascinating place with so many stories, and yet doesn’t get half the attention it deserves, in my opinion.”

Still answering the question he said, ” I also have always wanted to understand the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, which I think is one of the strangest legislations to have been passed by the Nigerian parliament, especially around the time it was passed.” Today, his wish has been fulfilled.

Reading briefly about the debut Novel, Blessings, the book sheds light on what it means to grow up queer in Nigeria, and how that experience affects not just the main character Obiefuna, but his family too.

Blessings is more than just a novel, it’s a celebration of queer identity, and a tribute to the power of human connection. Ibeh’s courageous and vulnerable exploration of his own experiences has created a work that resonates with readers from all walks of life.

Ibeh’s work has already garnered attention from literary giants like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who likened the prolific writer as her younger version.

So, get ready to be transported into a world of love, acceptance, and self-discovery, as Chukwuebuka Ibeh’s Blessing redefines the boundaries of literary excellence and queer storytelling.

Find more about Chukwuebuka Ibeh here.