Oil on Water is a 2010 petrofiction novel by Nigerian author Helon Habila.[1] The novel documents the experience of two journalists as they try to rescue a kidnapped European wife in the oil landscape of the Niger Delta.[2][3] The novel explores themes of both the ecological and political consequences of oil conflict and petrodollars in the delta.[3][2][4]
The novel was well received. Orion magazine called the novel successful, "a powerful work, one that reaffirms that art done well is always big enough to contain politics".[3] A review in the Guardian called the book a "powerful, accomplished third novel [which] displays a growing pessimism about journalism's capacity to effect change."[2]
Plot edit
Oil on Water is a story about two people, Rufus, an emerging journalist, and Zaq, a famous reporter.They went to the Niger Delta in pursuit of an abducted white woman named Isabel Floode, who was used as a bargaining chip in Nigeria's civil war.
Awards edit
- 2011 Commonwealth Writers Prize, shortlist[5]
- 2012 Orion Book Award, shortlist[6]
- 2012 PEN/Open Book Award, shortlist[7]
References edit
- ^ Riddle, Amy. "Petrofiction and Political Economy in the Age of Late Fossil Capital". Mediations: Journal of the Marxist Literary Group. 31 (2).
- ^ a b c "Oil on Water by Helon Habila | Book review". the Guardian. 2010-08-28. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
- ^ a b c "Orion Magazine | Oil on Water". Orion Magazine. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
- ^ Egya, Sule Emmanuel (2017). "Literary Militancy and Helon Habila's Oil on Water". Research in African Literatures. 48 (4): 94–104. doi:10.2979/reseafrilite.48.4.07. ISSN 0034-5210. JSTOR 10.2979/reseafrilite.48.4.07. S2CID 166108633.
- ^ "Helon Habila, Nigerian Literary Genius". LifeAndTimes News. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ Omoniyi, Tosin (2017-11-11). "Helon Habila, Maaza Mengiste named The New American Voices award judges - Premium Times Nigeria". Retrieved 2020-05-28.
- ^ "Helon Habila". Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
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