Gabriel Okara



 Gabriel Okara (born 24 April 1921) is a Nigerian poet and novelist.

Biography
Gabriel Imomtimi Gbaingbain Okara, the son of an Ijọ chief, was born in Bomoundi in Bayelsa State, in the Niger delta, in 1921. He was educated at Government College, Umuahia, and later at Yaba Higher College. He studied journalism at Northwestern University in the late 1950s, and before the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War worked as Information Officer for the Eastern Nigerian Government Service.

In addition to his poetry and fiction, Okara has also written plays and features for broadcasting.

Many of his manuscripts were destroyed during the Nigerian Civil War.

Writing
His most famous poem is "Piano and Drums". Another popular poem, "You Laughed and Laughed and Laughed", is a frequent feature of anthologies. Okara is very concerned with what happens when the ancient culture of Africa is faced with modern Western culture, as in his poem "Once Upon a Time". He pursues that theme in his novel The Voice (Africana Publishing: ISBN 0-8419-0015-9) Its protagonist Okolo, like countless post-colonial Africans, is hunted by society and haunted by his own ideals.

Recognition
In 1979, he was awarded the Commonwealth Poetry Prize.

Poetry

 * The Fisherman's Invocation. 1978.

Novel

 * The Voice. 1980.