Nigerian Literary Giant, Professor Omolara Ogundipe-Leslie dies at 78

She died on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, and her death was announced as the literary community gets ready to bury the late Pa Gabriel Okara this weekend.

Born on December 27, 1940, Ogundipe, also known as Molara Ogundipe, was a Nigerian poet, critic, editor, feminist and activist. Considered one of the foremost writers on African feminism, gender studies and literary theory, she was a social critic, who came to be recognised as a viable authority on African women among black feminists and feminists in general.

She has several literary works to her credit and contributed the piece, Not Spinning on the Axis of Maleness to the 1984 anthology Sisterhood Is Global: The International Women’s Movement Anthology, edited by Robin Morgan, among others.

President Buhari has also joined the academia in mourning Prof Ogundipe-Leslie, whose exceptional brilliance and contribution to scholarship in Nigeria, and many countries of the world will always be remembered.

President Buhari sends condolences to family members, friends and professional colleagues of the cerebral scholar, literary theorist and columnist, affirming that her expositions on gender consciousness, inclusivity and culture will always be relevant in planning for development in the country.