As mentioned on
en.wikipedia.org, Elechi Amadi was born 12th May 1934 in Aluu (near Port-Harcourt), in the year 1957 Elechi Amadi got married to Dorah Nwonne Ohale a midwife. Elechi studied physics and mathematics at the University College of Ibadan, which happens to be the second-largest city in Nigeria. After earning his degree in 1959, he worked as a surveyor for a year, and then became a science teacher. In the year 1963 Elechi joined the Nigerian Armed Forces. Upon being discharged of his duty from the Nigerian Military in the year 1966, He took a job at
ASA Grammar School as an headmaster. He wrote his first book that was an outstanding work on fiction '
The Concubine' in year 1966, the book earned him so much reputation as writer both locally and internationally.
The Concubine follows the story of a beautiful young village girl in Omokachi, Ihuoma is from a Igbo tribe her plight in the tale was centered on her past life when she was said to be married to a Jealous Mystical sea King, which lead to death and suffering of her 3 lovers. The novel portray a African society that is still ruled by traditional gods, and the strength of this novel lies on the fact that it is a hyper realistic fiction despite the penetration of supernatural.
Elechi Amadi's writing career was paused for a while during the Nigeria Civil war which broke out in the year 1967, and then ended in the year 1970. Elechi Amadi next work
'The Great pound' seem to be a metaphor, the novel talks about battle between two village communities over possession of a pond.
In the year 1973 publish his non-fiction autobiography
'Sunset in Biafra'. It records his presonal experience in the civil war, and was published in London.
There was no Book from Elechi Amadi until 1979 when he published
'The Slave', the story is about Olumati, who is the last in his family linage, Olumati was forced to serve as slaves to a god at a shrine in another village. He tries to restore his family
’s standing, but forces conspire against this plan.
Other books written by Elechi Amadi includes:
Isiburu, (1973)
Peppersoup, (1977)
Road To Ibadan, (1977)
Estrangement, (1985).
Elechi was kidnapped in on January 5 2009 in Aluu Ikwere by some unknown gunmen, He was later released the following day January 6 2009. on June 29, 2016 Elechi Amadi died at the age of 82 at
Good Heart Hospital, Port-Harcourt, Elechi is survived by eight children, seven girls and one boy.
AWARDS:
- 1992 - Rivers State Silver Jubilee Merit Award
- 2003 - honorary doctorate, Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Education, honoris causa, awarded by Rivers State University of Science and Technology
- 2003 - Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Education
- 2003 - Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR)