Obinna Udenwe completes northern book tour of ‘Years of Shame’ in Minna

By Paul Liam

AWARD-WINNING author, Obinna Udenwe, has completed the first phase of the northern tour for his new novel, Years of Shame, in Minna, the capital of Niger State. The critically acclaimed novel has gained wide praise by readers for its brilliant representation of the culture and history of the Izi people of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State since its successful launch in Abakaliki in June 2025. The novel was also presented in Lagos before the commencement of the northern tour which was kick-started in Jos, Plateau State, followed by Abuja and Minna, respectively.

According to the publisher of Purple Shelf Publishers, Amara Chimeka, who was also part of the tour, over 2,000 copies of Years of Shame have been sold even as readers continue to demand for more copies across the country.

The Jos edition of the tour was held on August 7 at the Alliance Francaise Centre with an impressive attendance that comprised notable writers like Bizuum Yadok, Alexander Izang, and university students who engaged the novel and its author. In spite of the threat of rain, the turnout of participants was over 30 people that graced the reading which was generally reported to be very enriching based on the testimonies of the author and attendees on social media.

The Abuja reading which held on August 9, 2025 at Adam’s Pages Bookstore, was moderated by the brilliant writer and publisher, Richard Ali. It was attended by established and emerging writers, including Professor Udenta O. Udenta, Dr. Lizi Iheanacho, Mallam Denja Abdullahi, Dr. Kabura Zakama, Teresa Oyibo Ameh, Salamatu Sule, Star Zahra, Oko Owi Ocho (Afrika), Biachi Ndidi Anointing, Ekeson Egwuonwu and a host of others too numerous to mention. It was a well attended reading.

The brilliant moderation by Richard Ali and the insightful revelation by the author led to several banters among the participants about the agency of African spirituality and traditional belief systems and the politics of historical fiction. The most prominent debate, however, was on the representation of women in African traditions and how patriarchal laws were deliberately designed to subvert the rights and voices of women in traditional African societies. The author revealed that he conducted critical research while writing the novel, drawing from oral sources and documents about the tradition and history of the Abakaliki people whom he said were subjugated and dehumanised by the hegemonic powers exercised by Arochukwo elites who held political and economic powers during colonialism and after independence and dominated all facets of the economic life of Abakaliki, and the attendant treatment of Abakaliki people as second class citizens.

Obinna Udenwe signing copies of Years of Shame to eager readers in Minna

The conversation highlighted the imperative of telling authentic African stories rooted in the culture and belief of the people. It was agreed that discussing the often ignored issues would open the door to truth and reconciliation that would lead to unity and development.

The Abuja book event was followed immediately with the Minna reading which held on August 10 at Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation Headquarters located at Hill-Top Model School. Curated by the highly respected cerebral writer and literary administrator, Mallam BM Dzukogi, the reading had writers and politicians, including the Chairman of ANA Niger, Almamum Mahmud Mallam, former Chairman of ANA Niger, Awwal Evuti, candidate for Chanchaga LGA and two-time former commissioner for Niger State, Dr. Mustapha Jibril, Chairman of Agai LGA, Hon. Sayuti Ibrahim Halilu, who sent a representative, Madam Adishetu Adama, Aso Salisu, Makama Shekwo’aga, Yerima Muhammed, Zaynab Dzukogi, Yusrah Dzukogi, Haarh, Muhammad Bashar and Abel Onafurume, among others, as guests. Also in attendance were members of Minna Literary Society and Minna Book Club.

The reading was moderated by the duo of Ibrahim Uthman and Fatima Salisu who delivered a brilliant conversation that would be remembered for a long time by those who graced the event. While the Minna reading paraded a large audience of younger people occasioned by the mentorship programme of the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation, the engagement was enigmatic and instructive as the young creatives posed critical questions to the author and challenging some of the ideas and contexts of the representations in the novel. It felt like a seminar of literary scholars dissecting and analysing the thesis submitted by a student. The author had a great time responding to the coterie of questions put to him by the audience. It was a rich gathering of book lovers and writers.

Dr. Jibril pledged his continuous support for the activities of the foundation and the promotion of literature and creative writing in the state. He promised to galvanise the support of the state government and other LGA chairmen in the state to support the great work of the foundation. The representative of Agai chairman, Adama, expressed delight at the beautiful gathering, appraising it as the best event he’d attended in a long time. He conveyed the chairman’s good wishes and support for literary development in the state.

Upon his return to Abuja, on August 11, Udenwe continued to engage with stakeholders from his home state of Ebonyi living in the city. He first met with the former Senate President and SGF, Pius Ayim Pius, before attending an informal gathering in his honour by his kinsmen at the Davina Hill Hotel and Resort, Gwarinpa.

Although the tour of Years of Shame is billed to continue in the south, Udenwe will attend another reading in Kano in the coming months.

Not many Nigerian authors writing today have had the privileged acceptance and celebration that Years of Shame is receiving from the Nigerian reading public. More importantly, very few home-based Nigerian writers bother to embark on reading tours like Udenwe has done and will continue to do. The other exception was that of the Editorial Board Chairman of The Nation newspaper, Mr. Sam Omatseye who toured Ile-Ife, Ibadan and Lagos with his latest novel, Juju Eyes. Other recent examples were by summer reading tours of three foreign-based writers – Chimamanda Ngozi Adicie (Dream Count), Uwem Akpan (New York, My Village) and Chigozie Obioma (The Road to the Country). These readings were also spearheaded by their publishers – Narrative Landscape Press, Parresia Publishers and Masobe Books respectively.

Udenwe’s book tour with Years of Shame was therefore a rare literary treat worthy of celebration by Purple Shelf Publishers for leading the way on how to truly invest in an author and promote his works to the far corners of the country. This is a rare feat worthy of recognition and emulation by other publishers in Nigeria.