ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special thanks to:
My parents, Dr. Okey and Dr. Mariam Onuzo.
My siblings: Dilichi and Kassim Lawal, Chinaza and Uche Onuzo, Dinachi and Onu Ocholi.
Dilichi, who gave me the title again. Let’s make it a hat trick.
Joseph Harker, for telling me his story.
My readers: Kinna Likimani, Nana Brew-Hammond, Sola Njoku, Atinuke, Onu, Chinaza, and Dinachi, who provided invaluable insights into the text, and especially to Sola, who always knows what a book needs.
My long-suffering supervisor, Professor Sarah Stockwell. The spark for this novel came from my research on the West African Students’ Union.
My supportive agent, Georgina Capel.
My editors, Sarah Savitt, who always believed, Rose Tomaszewska, for pushing the story further, and Jonathan Lee, for being so thorough.
My mentors, Jayne Banful for showing me new neural pathways, Ellah Allfrey for always reminding me of what I bring to the table, Oba Nsugbe for reminding me to look up and out.
The books and authors I turned to for inspiration when I was writing this novel: Segu by Maryse Condé, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula K. Le Guin, the novels of Sefi Atta, in particular, Everything Good Will Come, and Outline by Rachel Cusk.
The Holy Spirit, spirit of creativity.
©Blayke Images
Chibundu Onuzo was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and lives in London. Her life so far spans two military dictatorships, one internet revolution, two boarding schools, five grandmothers, and a first book deal signed at nineteen. Onuzo’s first novel, The Spider King’s Daughter, was the winner of a Betty Trask Award, short-listed for the Dylan Thomas Prize and the Commonwealth Book Prize, and long-listed for the Desmond Elliott Prize and Etisalat Prize for Literature. Her second novel, Welcome to Lagos, was a Belletrist Book Pick, an American Booksellers Association Indie Next Pick, and a finalist for the RSL Encore Award. In 2018, Onuzo was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She contributes regularly to The Guardian. Her autobiographical show, 1991, featuring narrative, music, song, and dance, premiered in a sellout show at Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival in 2018. Sankofa is her third novel. Find her on Twitter and Instagram @chibunduonuzo.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Copyright © 2021 by Chibundu Onuzo
All rights reserved
ISBN: 978-1-64622-083-0
Jacket design by Nicole Caputo
Book design by Jordan Koluch
Library of Congress Control Number: 2020948514
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