Bibliograph

Never look an American in the eye, a memoir of flying turtles, colonial ghosts, and the making of a Nigerian American, Okey Ndibe

Type

Label

Never look an American in the eye, a memoir of flying turtles, colonial ghosts, and the making of a Nigerian American, Okey Ndibe

Language

eng

resource.biographical

autobiography

Index

no index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Never look an American in the eye

Oclc number

952942739

Responsibility statement

Okey Ndibe

Sub title

a memoir of flying turtles, colonial ghosts, and the making of a Nigerian American

Summary

"Okey Ndibe's funny, charming, and penetrating memoir tells of his move from Nigeria to America, where he came to edit the influential--but forever teetering on the verge of insolvency--African Commentary magazine. It recounts stories of Ndibe's relationships with Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, and other literary figures; examines the differences between Nigerian and American etiquette and politics; recalls an incident of racial profiling just 13 days after he arrived in the US, in which he was mistaken for a bank robber; considers American stereotypes about Africa (and vice-versa); and juxtaposes African folk tales with Wall Street trickery. All these stories and more come together in a generous, encompassing book about the making of a writer and a new American"--, Provided by publisher

Table Of Contents

English dreams, communist fantasies, and American wrestling -- Never look an American in the eye -- My commission and a chilly American reception -- Sleepless in New York -- Nigerian, going dutch -- Fitting the description -- Are you okay? -- A Norwegian "Okay" interlude -- On a croc's back, America-bound -- Will edit for food -- Lying to be a writer -- Writing, reading, food, some ass kicking -- A brand-new American -- An African folktale, a Wall Street lesson -- A dying father, dreams of Burma and England -- Wole Soyinka saves my Christmas -- Crashing a party, changing hearts

Classification

Creator