[Every day for the month of February, I will post a brief write-up of a Black author and links to some of their books. Please click the links in the text to find copies of their works.]

Akwaeke Emezi is a Nigerian-born author and filmmaker whose work explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and the blurred lines between reality and the supernatural.

Emezi’s debut novel, “Freshwater,” was published in 2018 to critical acclaim and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Their follow-up, “The Death of Vivek Oji,” was released in 2020 and received similar praise. Emezi’s unique style and imaginative storytelling have earned them a reputation as a leading voice in contemporary African literature.

Their work has been described as “a journey into the deep, uncharted waters of the African psyche” (The New York Times). Emezi’s writing has been celebrated for its nuance and its ability to challenge conventional narratives about the African experience.