Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ (born 29 January 1988) is a Nigerian writer. Her 2017 debut novel, '' Stay With Me'', won the 9mobile Prize for Literature and the Prix Les Afriques. She was awarded The Future Awards Africa Prize for Arts and Culture in 2017.

Early years

Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ was born in

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

, Nigeria, on January 29, 1988. Shortly after, her family moved to Ilesa and then to Ile-Ife, where she spent most of her childhood in the University Staff Quarters of Obafemi Awolowo University.

Writing career

Adébáyọ̀ studied at Obafemi Awolowo University, earning BA and MA degrees in Literature in English. She went on to study Creative Writing (MA Prose fiction) at the

University of East Anglia The University of East Anglia (UEA) is a Public university, public research university in Norwich, England. Established in 1963 on a campus university, campus west of the city centre, the university has four faculties and twenty-six schools of ...

, where she was awarded an International Bursary. She has also studied writing with

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born Grace Ngozi Adichie; 15 September 1977) is a Nigerians, Nigerian writer of novels, short stories, poem, and children's books; she is also a book reviewer and literary critic. Her most famous works include ''Purple ...

and

Margaret Atwood Margaret Eleanor Atwood (born November 18, 1939) is a Canadian novelist, poet, literary critic, and an inventor. Since 1961, she has published 18 books of poetry, 18 novels, 11 books of nonfiction, nine collections of short fiction, eight chi ...

. In 2015, Adébáyọ̀ was listed by the ''

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...

'' as one of the bright stars of

Nigerian literature Nigerian literature is a literary writing in Nigeria often by her citizens. It encompasses writers in a number of languages spoken in Nigeria including Igbo, Urhobo, Yoruba, Hausa and Nupe. ''Things Fall Apart'' (1958) by Chinua Achebe is ...

. Her

debut novel A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to pu ...

, '' Stay With Me'', was published in 2017 by

Canongate Books Canongate Books (trading as Canongate) is an independent publishing firm based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is named after the Canongate area of the city. It is most recognised for publishing the Booker Prize winning novel '' Life of Pi'' (2001 ...

to critical acclaim.

Michiko Kakutani is an American writer and retired literary critic, best known for reviewing books for ''The New York Times'' from 1983 to 2017. In that role, she won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1998. Early life and family Kakutani, a Japanese Americ ...

in her review of ''Stay With Me'' for ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' described Adébáyọ̀ as "an exceptional storyteller", adding: "She writes not just with extraordinary grace but with genuine wisdom about love and loss and the possibility of redemption. She has written a powerfully magnetic and heartbreaking book." The book was subsequently published in the US by Alfred A. Knopf and in Nigeria by Ouida Books. It has been translated into more than 18 languages. It was selected as notable book of the year by several publications, including ''

'', ''

The Economist ''The Economist'' is a British newspaper published weekly in printed magazine format and daily on Electronic publishing, digital platforms. It publishes stories on topics that include economics, business, geopolitics, technology and culture. M ...

'', ''

The Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' (''WSJ''), also referred to simply as the ''Journal,'' is an American newspaper based in New York City. The newspaper provides extensive coverage of news, especially business and finance. It operates on a subscriptio ...

'' and ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

''. ''Stay with Me'' was shortlisted for the

Wellcome Book Prize Wellcome Book Prize (2009–2019 — paused) is an annual British literary award sponsored by Wellcome Trust The Wellcome Trust is a charitable foundation focused on health research based in London, United Kingdom. It was established in 1936 ...

, the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction," Nigerian writer Ayobami Adebayo, Tying the knot after 65, Japan's comfort women"

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

'' Woman's Hour'', 16 March 2017. as well as for the 9mobile Prize for Literature (formerly the Etisalat Prize for Literature), which the novel won in 2019. It was also longlisted for the

International Dublin Literary Award The International Dublin Literary Award (), established as the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 1996, is presented each year for a novel written or translated into English. It promotes excellence in world literature and is solely ...

and the Dylan Thomas Prize. Prior to publication, the novel had been shortlisted for the ''Kwani?'' Manuscript Project,"100 MOST INFLUENTIAL NIGERIAN WRITERS UNDER 40. (2016 LIST)"
, Nigerian Writers Awards, 28 December 2016. a prize for unpublished fiction. The series editor is Ellah Wakatama Allfrey. In 2020, ''Reste Avec Moi'', the French translation of ''Stay with Me'', was awarded the

Prix Les Afriques Prix was an American power pop band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1975 by Tommy Hoehn and Jon Tiven. The group ended up primarily as a studio project. Its recordings were produced by Tiven along with former Big Star member Chris Bell, who ...

. The translation by Josette Chicheportiche was published in 2019 by Charleston Editions. Adébáyọ̀ has been a writer in residence at Ledig House Omi, Hedgebrook, Sinthian Cultural Institute, Ox-Bow School of Art, MacDowell Colony and Ebedi Hills. She was shortlisted for the Miles Morland Scholarship in 2014 and 2015. In 2021, Adébáyọ̀'s second novel, ''A Spell of Good Things'' – described as being "about family secrets and bonds, thwarted hope, and the brutal realities of life in a society rife with inequality" – was announced for publication by Canongate (UK) and Knopf (US). Released in 2023, ''A Spell of Good Things'' received favourable review coverage, including in ''

The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. First published in 1791, it is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper. In 1993 it was acquired by Guardian Media Group Limited, and operated as a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' ...

'' (where it was described as "immensely readable") and in ''The New York Times'', with Aamina Ahmad noting that " ere a raw, dynamic storytelling energized Adébáyò’s prose in 'Stay With Me,' here the graceful, stately quality of the sentences evokes restraint, avoiding sentimentality". It was longlisted for the 2023

Booker Prize The Booker Prize, formerly the Booker Prize for Fiction (1969–2001) and the Man Booker Prize (2002–2019), is a prestigious literary award conferred each year for the best single work of sustained fiction written in the English language, wh ...

and shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize. ''A Spell of Good Things'' was shortlisted for the 2024 Encore Award, given by the

Royal Society of Literature The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) is a learned society founded in 1820 by King George IV to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". A charity that represents the voice of literature in the UK, the RSL has about 800 Fellows, elect ...

to celebrate the "difficult second novel" that follows an author's literary debut.

Other literary work

In 2024, Adébáyọ̀ was a judge for the

Women's Prize for Fiction The Women's Prize for Fiction (previously with sponsor names Orange Prize for Fiction (1996–2006 and 2009–2012), Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction (2007–08) and Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction (2014–2017) is one of the United Kingdom's ...

, and was announced as a jury member for the 2025 Booker Prize.

Personal life

Adébáyọ̀ is married to Emmanuel Iduma. The couple announced their marriage in 2021, although in his memoir, Iduma notes that their wedding took place in 2020.

Bibliography

Books

* '' Stay with Me''.

Knopf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. () is an American publishing house that was founded by Blanche Knopf and Alfred A. Knopf Sr. in 1915. Blanche and Alfred traveled abroad regularly and were known for publishing European, Asian, and Latin American writers ...

, 2017, US.

, 2017, UK (). * '' A Spell of Good Things'', Canongate Books, 2023 ().

Other writing

One of Adébáyọ̀'s stories was highly commended in the 2009 Commonwealth Short Story Competition. Her poems and stories have been published in several magazines and anthologies, including ''East Jasmine Review'', '' Farafina Magazine'', '' Saraba Magazine'', ''Kalahari Review'', ''Lawino Magazine'', ''Speaking for the Generations: An Anthology of New African Writing'', ''Off the Coast: Maine’s International Journal of Poetry'', ''Ilanot Review'', ''Gambit: Newer African Writing'', and '' New Daughters of Africa: An international anthology of writing by women of African descent'' (edited by Margaret Busby). Adébáyọ̀ has also written non-fiction pieces for '' Elle UK'' and the

Awards

* 2017: Shortlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction. *2017: WINNER The Future Awards Africa (Arts and Culture). *2018: Shortlisted for the

. *2019: WINNER 9mobile Prize for Literature for ''Stay With Me.'' *2020: WINNE
Prix Les Afriques
for ''Stay With Me.'' *2023: Longlisted for the Booker Prize for ''A Spell of Good Things.'' *2024: Shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize for ''A Spell of Good Things.'' *2024: Shortlisted for the Encore Prize for ''A Spell of Good Things.''

References

External links

Official website
* Noor Brara
"Love Story: “Stay With Me,” the Debut Novel From Ayobami Adebayo, Explores New Horizons of Feminism and Relationships"
'' Vogue'', 9 August 2017. * Alice O'Keeffe
"Ayòbámi Adébáyò: ‘We should decide for ourselves what happiness looks like’"
''

'', 26 February 2017.
Interview
, The Kwani? Manuscript Project, 2013.
"Ayobami Adebayo Q&A: 'In 3018, I would love to be a therapist for robots
''

New Statesman ''The New Statesman'' (known from 1931 to 1964 as the ''New Statesman and Nation'') is a British political and cultural news magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first c ...

'', 25 November 2018. {{DEFAULTSORT:Adebayo, Ayobami 1988 births Living people 21st-century Nigerian novelists 21st-century Nigerian women writers Alumni of the University of East Anglia Nigerian expatriates in the United Kingdom Nigerian women novelists Obafemi Awolowo University alumni Writers from Lagos