Nnorom Azuonye // (born 12 July 1967, in Biafra to 21 January 2024) was a publisher, theater director, playwright, poet and advertising professional. He was also an accredited Methodist Local Preacher with the Methodist Church in Britain and served as Principal Networker, Global Calvary Network. He wrote Letter To God & Other Poems in 2003, The Bridge Selection: Poems for the Road (2005 & 2012) and Funeral of the Minstrel in 2015).[1] The Founding Publishing Director & Chief Executive Officer, SPM Publications Ltd,[2] Azuonye was the founder and administrator of Sentinel Poetry Movement and the founder[3] and publisher of the magazines Nollywood Focus, Sentinel Literary Quarterly, Sentinel Nigeria and Sentinel Champions.[4][5]

Early life and education edit

Nnorom Azuonye, a native of Isuikwuato, Abia State of Nigeria, was born at Enugu, now in Enugu State of Nigeria, on 12 July 1967. He was the youngest son of Stephen Onyemaechi Azuonye MON, MBE, and Hannah Egwuime Azuonye. He attended Government College Umuahia, Capital College, London, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he studied Dramatic Arts[citation needed].

Literary activities edit

In 2002, Azuonye founded the Sentinel Poetry Movement - an international community of writers and artists providing an interaction and publishing resource for poetry, fiction, drama, essays, interviews and review of the Arts. He was the Managing Editor of Sentinel Literary Quarterly - a magazine of world literature published by Sentinel Poetry Movement. He was also the publisher of Sentinel Nigeria magazine - an online magazine of contemporary Nigerian writing Sentinel's previous two publications, Sentinel Poetry (Online) and Sentinel Poetry Quarterly, were later merged into the single publication Sentinel Literary Quarterly[6]

Writing edit

Azuonye has been widely published internationally in journals, newspapers and anthologies including Agenda, DrumVoices Revue, Eclectica, Orbis, World Haiku Review, Nigerians Talk, African Writing, African Writers, Sketchbook, Poetry Monthly, Opon Ifa, Theatre Forum, Voices Against Racism: 100 Poems Against Racism, and Poems for a Liminal Age (Mandy Pannett ed.)[7]

Books

  • Letter to God & Other Poems (2003),
  • The Bridge Selection: Poems for the Road (2005 & 2012).[8]
  • Blue Hyacinths (2010; ed. with Geoff Stevens),
  • Sentinel Annual Literature Anthology (2011; ed with Unoma Azuah and Amanda Sington-Williams),
  • Funeral of the Minstrel[9]
  • The Genesis of Falcon (ed.)[10] (a play, 2015).[citation needed]

Family edit

Nnorom was married to Thelma Amaka Azuonye (née Mbomi) in 2006. They lived in London, United Kingdom, with their children Arinzechukwu, Nwachiamanda, Obinna and Ugochukwu.

References edit

  1. ^ "9780992705510: Funeral of the Minstrel". www.abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  2. ^ SPM Publications Ltd[dead link]
  3. ^ "African-Writing Online; Poetry; Nnorom Azuonye". www.african-writing.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  4. ^ "sentinelnigeria.org". ww38.sentinelnigeria.org. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Nnorom Azuonye - About me". www.nnoromazuonye.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  6. ^ Nnorom. "About Nnorom Azuonye". Sentinel Literary Quarterly. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Nnorom Azuonye, Author at AfricanWriter.com". AfricanWriter.com. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  8. ^ Nnorom Azuonye (2012). The Bridge Selection: Poems for the Road. ISBN 978-0956810144.
  9. ^ Azuonye, Nnorom Okezie (October 2015). Funeral of the Minstrel. Spm Publications. ISBN 978-0992705572.
  10. ^ Azuonye, Nnorom Okezie (November 2013). The Genesis of Falcon: Sentinel Annual Poetry and Short Story Competitions 2012 Winners Anthology. Spm Publications. ISBN 978-0992705527.

External links edit