The Mazariyya Books Ltd., a publishing outfit based in Abuja, and the Cyprian Ekwensi Foundation have signed contract agreements for the posthumous publication titled “In My Time”, an autobiography of the late Nigerian iconic writer, Cyprian Ekwensi.
Mr Ekwensi was a Nigerian author, pharmacist, journalist and broadcaster, considered by many to be the father of modern Nigerian literature and was the second Nigerian to gain international acclaim for writing with his first novel People of the City (1954).
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The Mazariyya Books Ltd., chaired byAhmed Maiwada, and the Chairman of the Cyprian Ekwensi Foundation, Chiedu Ekwensi, signed the publishing agreement in Abuja on Tuesday and will publish the book in February 2026.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the partnership aims to reissue the book for the benefit of readers who loved Ekwensi’s work but never read his first novella.
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The partnership is also aimed at publishing the writer’s posthumous book “In My Time” edited by Ernest Emenyonu, a Nigerian academic, African literature critic, and professor.
The Mazariyya Books Ltd., Abuja, chaired by its chairman, Ahmed Maiwada, a lawyer and publisher, said they also agreed to publish the late Ekwensi’s first published fiction, “When Love Whisper” posthumously, which was originally published in 1948.
“When Love Whispers,” a romantic novella that delves into the complexities of love, betrayal, and societal expectations, was Ekwensi’s first published work of fiction and had been out of print for decades.
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The story is set against the backdrop of Nigerian society and highlights the challenges of maintaining relationships amidst external pressures.
Remarks
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mr Maiwada said partnering with the giant Nigerian writer through his first living son, Georges Ekwensi, was a great pleasure in signing these two agreements.
According to him, it is a very big honour to publish the work of an icon who was born in Minna, Niger State, adding that such histories are going to grow together into something unique.
“We are not going to joke about it; rather, we will do our very best to see that these works get to any interested reader, and we will fight tooth and nail to ensure these works are void of piracy.
“We understand that late Ekwensi’s works are out there, and there may not even be any track record of how they got into the printed versions of what we are seeing in the bookshops.
“But the assurance we are giving is that possibly, after seeing what we might have done with these two titles, we might give some more consideration to see that a bit of sanity is brought into other works that are not within our own consideration.
“You know writers in Nigeria in particular will begin to have the confidence that even after their death their works will remain and make meaning,” he said.
The chairman, who said that Ekwensi’s work was recognised for the benefit of humanity, said, “It was not all commerce today, but we are certain that when we start these two works, we believe it will be a memorable journey.
“I always like to remind the government of the day that producing books in Nigeria is expensive because it takes a lot of money.
“We want the government to take all the necessary policy steps to ensure that printing and printing materials are affordable and less expensive, so that these books that we are taking out can be affordable.
Appreciation
Mr Maiwada appreciated the late literary icon’s son for his trust, as well as Mr Emenyonu for his position in the Nigerian diaspora literary circle and for his huge input, particularly concerning Ekwensi’s autobiography.
Also speaking, the Ekwensi Foundation’s chairman said witnessing the two contracts executed with Mazariyya Books Ltd. was a welcome development, as one of the books was an autobiography of an African writer, Ekwensi.
According to him, the autobiography is a journey of a young man—his early life, early education, and so on. So, when people read this book, they will come to understand that a man is made.
“It is not just writing, but we know and understand what really transpired and how this whole thing came about.”
He thanked the publisher for such an opportunity and prayed that the aim of these contracts should be achieved.
ANA
Patrick Oguejiofor, former chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), said, “Living to see the contract of Ekwensi’s autobiography, a great icon, to be published posthumously showed that the spirit of the Prince is here.
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“I have been following his childhood from African Ice Entertainment to Juju Rock, The Rainmakers, Samekpua and the High Rail Robbers, Koukan Boy, Akin the Drama Boy, Iska, among others.
“So, today is special because I strongly believe that writers do not die, because great writers never die and their works live years after them,” Oguejiofor, who is also a poet and writer, said.
The former ANA chairman described Nigerians as good readers, stressing the need to make the books accessible to them.
The two books are expected to be published in February 2026 by Mazariyya Books Ltd., Abuja.
(NAN)
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