Novelist, Poet, Lecturer, Administrator

Gabriel Imomotimi Okara was a distinguished literary icon from the Niger Delta and a recipient of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). Widely celebrated for his pioneering contributions to African literature and Nigerian media, he left behind a legacy of creativity, integrity, and service that continues to inspire generations.

Early Life and Family Background

Born on April 24, 1921, in Bumoundi Village of Ekpetiama Kingdom, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Gabriel Okara came from a family of affluence and influence. His father, Chief Samson Gbaingbain Pappah Okara, was the paramount ruler of Bumoundi and a successful businessman who worked with the Royal Niger Company and United Africa Company. His mother, Mrs. Martha Ereoweidigha Okara of Tombia, was a devout Anglican. Together, they instilled in their children discipline, Christian values, and a strong sense of community.

Education

Okara began his education at St. Peter’s Day School in Bumoundi before continuing at Christ Army Church School in Port Harcourt and Reverend Proctor’s Memorial School in Kaiama, where he completed his primary education in 1934. In 1935, he gained admission to Government College, Umuahia, one of the most prestigious schools in colonial Nigeria. There, he excelled academically, distinguished himself as a creative writer and artist, and captained the school’s cricket team.

He later pursued studies in journalism at the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, Illinois, in 1959, and attended the British Government Central Office of Information course in London in 1964.

Career and Public Service

Okara’s career began with British Airways (then British Overseas Airways Corporation) between 1940 and 1944. He later joined the Government Press in Lagos as a bookbinder, where his literary journey took root. By 1952, he had transferred to the Eastern Nigeria Information Service, rising to become Head of the Agency in Enugu by 1964.

During the Nigerian Civil War, he served as Head of Information in Eastern Nigeria, playing a crucial role in diplomatic efforts alongside literary figures such as Chinua Achebe and Cyprian Ekwensi. After the war, he became Principal Secretary to the Military Governor of Rivers State, Commodore Alfred Diete-Spiff, and later pioneered the establishment of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The Tide. He also founded the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, setting up Radio Rivers and Rivers State Television, which later evolved into NTA Port Harcourt.

His reputation for integrity was evident throughout his public service. Even after retirement, he continued to contribute, serving as Commissioner for Information and Broadcasting in Rivers State and later as Chairman of the Committee on Recognition and Classification of Chieftaincy Stools in Bayelsa State.

Literary Contributions

Gabriel Okara was a man of letters whose works spanned fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. His first novel, The Voice (1964), remains a landmark in African literature. His poetry collection, The Fisherman’s Invocation (1978), earned him international acclaim. He also wrote children’s literature, including Juju Island (1992) and Little Snake and the Little Frog (1981). His essays, such as African Speech…English Words and Towards the Evolution of an African Language for African Literature, explored the complexities of language and identity in African writing.

Awards and Recognition

Okara’s literary excellence was recognized both nationally and internationally. He won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize in 1979, received an honorary Doctor of Letters in 1982, and was conferred with the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Niger in 2001. He was celebrated as Poet Laureate of the Niger Delta in 2016, and the Gabriel Okara Literary Festival was inaugurated in his honor in 2017.

Faith and Family

Okara was married with four children. Though raised in the Anglican faith, he later embraced Christian Science, becoming a committed member of the First Church of Christ Scientist in Port Harcourt.

Death and Legacy

Gabriel Imomotimi Okara passed away on March 24, 2019, at the age of 98, at the Federal Medical Center in Yenagoa. His words, “he laughed and laughed and laughed,” echo his resilience and courage in the face of adversity. His legacy as a pioneer of African literature and media remains indelible, marking him as one of Nigeria’s most enduring cultural icons.