Christopher Abani Professor Office: 4153 INTS Phone: (951) 827-3360 E-mail: chris.abani@ucr.edu

Areas of Specialization

Poetics and Poetry, Creative Writing, Postcolonial Literature (African and Caribbean), Twentieth Century Literature (British and American), Gender Studies, Jazz and West African Music.

Education

• Ph.D. Literature and Creative Writing. 2004 (expected).
  University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
  
  
• M.A. English. 2002.
  University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
  
  
• M.A. Gender, Society, and Culture. 1995.
  Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.
  
  
• B.A. magna cum laude in English and Literary Studies. 1991.
  Imo State University, Imo, Owerri, Nigeria, West Africa.

Honors and Awards

• Lannan Literary Fellowship in Poetry. USA. 2003.
• Hellmann/Hammett Grant from Human Rights Watch. USA. 2003.
• Imbongi Ysizwe Poetry International Award. South Africa. 2002.
• PEN Center USA West International Freedom-to-Write Award. USA. 2001.
• Prince Claus of the Netherlands International Writing Award. The Netherlands. 2001.
• Middleton Fellowship, University of Southern California, USA. 2001.

Teaching Experience

Appointments

• Visiting Assistant Professor. Creative Writing. University of California, Riverside. 2003-2004
• Associate Professor. MFA Creative Writing. Antioch University, Los Angeles. 2001 to date.

Publications

Books

Poetry:

• Dog Woman. Red Hen Press, California, USA. Fall 2004.
• Maar mijn hart is onvergankelijk (My Heart Is Unending): Selected Poems (In Bilingual English-Dutch translation) Wagner & Van Sauten, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 2003.
• Daphne's Lot. Red Hen Press, California, USA. 2003.
• Kalakuta Republic. Saqi Books, London, UK. 2000.

Novels:

• Graceland. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, USA. 2004.
• Masters of the Board. Delta, Nigeria. 1985.

Plays

• The Poet, The Soldier, The Lover and The Paper-Kite Maker. Commissioned by The Kennedy Foundation as a play for young adults and staged at The Actor's Gang, Hollywood. Written and directed by Chris Abani. Co-director, Antonia Carneval. 2003.
  
  
• Song of a Broken Flute. Commissioned by Center for Igbo Studies, Imo State University, Nigeria. Written and Directed by Chris Abani. 1990.
  
  
• Room at the Top. Imo State Broadcasting Station (Television), Nigeria. Written by Chris Abani. 1985.

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