EDUCATION
1989-94:
Ph.D. English; University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Dissertation: Reading Kinesis: Character Theory in the Black Novel – a deconstructionist reading of the transformative and mobile capacities of the character in representative novels of Wole Soyinka, Ralph Ellison, Bessie Head and Toni Morrison.
1985-86:
M.A. English/Literature; University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Research Thesis: Barakean Poetic Metamorphoses – a theoretical and close reading of LeRoi Jones/Amiri Baraka’s poetry, 1958-1984.
1981-84:
B.A. English (Second Class Upper) University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
FIELDS OF INTEREST
Comparative & Postcolonial African Literatures, Writing Skills, Creative Writing and Cultural Studies
ACADEMIC AFFILIATION
Research Fellow; Institute of Asian & African Studies, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany; March 2006 – August 2007.
Department of English, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. African & African American Literature, English Drama and Poetry, Literary Theory and Creative Writing; Lecturer II, 1995-98, Lecturer I, 1998--; Senior Lecturer, 2001--.
Department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. English Romantic Poetry, Literary Theory and Creative Writing; Lecturer II, 1994-1995.
Saint Andrew’s College of Education, Oyo, Nigeria. English Drama and Poetry, African Literature and Creative Writing; Assistant Lecturer, 1987-90; Lecturer III, 1990-93; Lecturer II, 1993-94.
AWARDS, GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS & RESIDENCIES
2006:
Book Shortlisted for the Wole Soyinka Prize for African Literature (Lovesong for my Wasteland)
2006-07
Georg Forster Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. 2005-06 Visiting Scholar, Centre of African Studies & Wolfson College, Cambridge University, UK.
2004-05:
Guest Writer to the City of Stockholm, Sweden. 2002-04: College & University Affiliation Program (CUAP) Grant, Southern Illinois University, USA-University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
2003:
Special Creative Writing Prize awarded by the African Information Society Initiative, UNECA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; (for “A Poem for Practical Dreamers, or Dreams at Work”).
2002:
Visiting Harry Oppenheimer African Scholar, Centre for African Studies University of Cape Town, South Africa.
2001:
Scholar-in-Residence, Department of English, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, US.
2001:
West African Research Center Travel Grant, Dakar, Senegal; Fellow, Institute of Gender Studies, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
2000:
Recipient, The Ford Foundation (West Africa) Research Grant in Culture, Media & Literature.
1999:
Summer Institute for International Professors and Scholars, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, US.
1997:
Association of West African Writers’ Award for Best First Published Book of the Year (for A Harvest of Laughters).
1997:
Association of Nigerian Authors-Cadbury Poetry Prize (for A Harvest of Laughters).
MEMBERSHIP OF ASSOCIATION/ATTENDANCE AT CONFERENCES
The Mid American Alliance for African Studies Conference, Kansas University, Lawrence, Kansas; Oct. 3-5, 2003. Paper Presented: “Posting the African Proverb: A Grammar of Yoruba Postproverbials.”
Bridging the African Diaspora Symposium. University of Nebraska-Lincoln; 23-25 February 2001. Paper Presented: “Phillis Wheatley’s Heiresses: The Notion of Being and Silence in African American and African Poetry.”
African Literature Association
The Arts Council of the African Studies Association
Association of Nigerian Authors; (State Chairman 1997-2000; National Editor, ANA Review 2000)
American Studies Association of Nigeria; (Chairman, A.S.A.N University of Ibadan Branch)
The Premier Circle, University of Ibadan; (co-founder, 1997)
General Secretary, P.E.N. International (Nigerian Centre)
Pioneer Coordinator, PAN (PEN African Centres), 2003-2005.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
2004:
Member, National Jury, “Bridges of Struga” International Poetry Award; Appointed by the Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO.
2003:
Resource Person, “Africa Information Society Initiative”; Visioning for an African University in the year 2025. Programme of UNECA, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (June, 2003).
2001:
United Nations Organization Nominee Poetry Coordinator (Nigeria) for the Program: “Dialogue among Civilizations through Poetry” (March 2001).
2000:
Resource Person, International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), UNESCO- Creative Writers Institute Project on Environmental Issues. Paper Presented: “Writing Poetry for the Youth, or the Mechanics of Poetry: A Way of Knowing.” December 13, 2000. The Conference Center, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
1997--:
Resource Person, Joint Admissions & Matriculation Board (JAMB, Literature in English) for Nigerian Universities. 1996: Media Guest Lecturer (Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, Nigeria): English Language Laboratory program for Youth Development.
1987:
Coordinator, Poetry Club, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
1983-1984:
Coordinator, Poetry Club, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
SERVICE
2009 (July) --
Head, Department of English, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
2007--
Member, International Advisory Committee, Project on New African Literatures (PONAL)
2006 --
Member, Editorial Board of Matatu: Journal for African Culture and Society.
2003-04:
Editor, Ibadan Journal of English Studies – official journal of the Department of English, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
2003-04:
Sub-Dean, Postgraduate; Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan.
2003:
Member, University Postgraduate Sub-Committee on Guidelines for Writing Doctoral Theses; (effective Nov. 2, 2003).
2001:
Faculty Representative on University Computer Committee. 2000: External Moderator for Department of Modern European Languages, University of Ilorin, NIGERIA; 1999/2000.
1999:
Member, Editorial Board, University of Ibadan Abstracts (of Theses) Committee.
1997-99:
Sub-Dean, Faculty of Arts; University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. 1996-97: Member, University Senate Committee on General English Studies: GES.
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