Origins & Early Life

Christopher Ifekandu Okigbo (16 August 1932 – 1967) was a Nigerian poet, teacher, and librarian, who died fighting for the independence of Biafra. He is widely acknowledged as an outstanding postcolonial English-language African poet and one of the major modernist writers of the 20th century. Okigbo was born on 16 August 1932, in the town of Ojoto, about 10 miles (16 km) from the city of Onitsha in Anambra State, located in the southeastern region of Nigeria. His father was a teacher in Catholic missionary schools during the heyday of British colonial rule in Nigeria, and Okigbo spent his early years moving from station to station.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

An influential figure in Okigbo's early years was his older brother Pius Okigbo, who would later become the renowned economist and first Nigerian Ambassador to the European Economic Commission (EU). His first cousin was the academic, Bede Okigbo. Despite his father's devout Christianity, Okigbo had an affinity, and came to believe later in his life, that in him was reincarnated the soul of his maternal grandfather, a priest of Idoto, an Igbo deity. Idoto is personified in the river of the same name that flows through...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Ali al-Sistani — Contemporary (Born in 1930) (1930): Leading Twelver Shia scholar and Grand Ayatollah of Najaf, Iraq.
• Akshay Kumar — Contemporary (Born in 1967) (1967): Veteran Indian actor and producer known for action roles and prolific career.
• Albert Luthuli — Contemporary (Died in 1967) (1967): Pioneering anti-apartheid activist and leader of the ANC in South Africa.
• Aleksandr Karelin — Contemporary (Born in 1967) (1967): Dominant Greco-Roman wrestler, nicknamed the "Russian Bear", celebrated for unmatched Olympic success.
• Albert Cohen (novelist) — Shared historical date (08-16 · Born) (1895): Greek-born Swiss novelist who wrote in French, known for his memoirs and international work.
• Alfredo Stroessner — Shared historical date (08-16 · Died) (2006): Paraguayan military dictator who ruled from 1954 to 1989, known for repression.
• Ahmad ibn Tulun — Shared historical date (09-20 · Born) (835): Founder of the Tulunid dynasty, ruling Egypt and Syria from 868 to 905.
• Annie Besant — Shared historical date (09-20 · Died) (1933): Activist, writer, and Theosophist championing social reform and self-rule.
• 1930 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1930
• August 16 (08-16) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 16
• 1967 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1967
• September 20 (09-20) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 20