Breaking: First Generation Nigerian Author, Chukwuemeka Ike, Dies

By Uche Mbah

First Generation Nigerian Author, Chukwuemeka Ike, has died . He died at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi. Until his death, he was the traditional ruler of Ndikelionwu community bin Orumba, Anambra state. He was referred to as Eze Ikelionwi IX. He was 89.

Born on 28th April, 1931, Ike died Thursday, December 9, 2020, after a brief illness.

Ike’s literary career spanned decades. He was a contemporary of Christopher Okigbo and Chinua Achebe-in fact, the three are old boys of government college Umuahia. He also went to the University of Ibadan, where Achebe also attended.His genre spanned both fiction and non fiction. his novels were used in schools. he wrote both for the children and adults, using humor to impact some didactic lessons.

The former Registrer of West African Examination Council, WAEC, used his hometown ikerionwu as the setting for some of his novels. These has included