E-mail a friendChris Abani
original airdate July 11, 2006
Poet and novelist Chris Abani teaches in Antioch University's MFA Program and at the University of California-Riverside. As a teen, he was imprisoned in his native Nigeria when his debut novel was labeled a national security threat. After his release, Abani participated in a guerrilla theater group. His activism led to more arrests and a death sentence. He eventually chose exile, settling first in the UK and then in California. Abani's latest work is a novella, Becoming Abigail.
Chris Abani compares activism in Nigeria to activism in the U.S.
Chris Abani
Tavis Smiley: Good evening. From Los Angeles, I'm Tavis Smiley. First up tonight, an update on post-Katrina New Orleans. In the wake of a major study by the
Brookings Institution. Like most aspects of the rebuilding effort, there is good and bad news about the state of the Big Easy. Tonight, a look at the struggle to rebuild a great American city with Amy Liu of Brookings' Metropolitan Policy Program.
Also tonight, acclaimed Nigerian novelist and poet Chris Abani is here. Fifteen years ago, he fled his native Nigeria following imprisonment and torture. Since then, he's been a powerful voice for human rights in Africa. His latest book is a novella called "Becoming Abigail." We're glad you've joined us. That's all coming up right now.
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