Short Bio

Born in Nigeria, Chioma Okereke grew up in London and studied law at UCL. She started her writing career as a performance poet before turning her hand to prose. Her debut novel, Bitter Leaf (Virago), was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and her short story, Trompette De La Mort, received First Runner Up of the inaugural Costa Short Story Award. She divides her time between the bustle of London, the hustle of Lagos, and the rustle of rural France. Follow her on X, Instagram, Facebook and sign up to her newsletter at chiomaokereke.com.

Long Bio

Chioma Okereke is a Nigeria-born author, who grew up in London and studied law at UCL. She started her writing career as a performance poet before turning her hand to prose.

Her debut novel, Bitter Leaf (Virago), was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize - Africa Best First Book. Her short story, Trompette De La Mort, received First Runner Up of the inaugural Costa Short Story Award and her work was included in the Virago is 40 anthology.

A coming-of-age story set in the real settlement of Makoko, Lagos, her upcoming novel, Water Baby (Quercus, April 2024) portrays the pressures on a young woman trying to escape the confines of her community and explores wider societal issues including climate change, digitalisation, gentrification, and resettlement.

Chioma set up Makoko Pearls to raise funds for the inhabitants of the informal settlement of Makoko, most of whom are living without access to basic social amenities. Get involved at makokopearls.org.

As a keen traveller, globetrotting has greatly influenced Chioma’s storytelling. Passionate about universal stories and challenging the stereotypes surrounding writers of African descent, she divides her time between the bustle of London, the hustle of Nigeria and the calm of rural France. Follow her on X, Instagram, Facebook and sign up to her newsletter at chiomaokereke.com.