Francesca Ekwuyasi is a

Nigerian-Canadian Nigerian Canadians are Canadian citizens and residents of Nigerian origin and descent. Nigerians began migrating to Canada during the 1967–1970 Nigerian Civil War. Nigerians were not broken out separately in immigration statistics until 1973. 3,9 ...

writer and artist.Jade Nauss
"Francesca Omolara Ekwuyasi moves from Penance to reconciliation"
''

The Coast The Coast may refer to: * ''The Coast'' (newspaper), a weekly newspaper in Halifax, Canada * The Coast, Newark, New Jersey, a neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey, USA * "The Coast", a song by Paul Simon from his 1990 album ''The Rhythm of the Saints ...

'', November 28, 2019. She is most noted for her debut novel ''

Butter Honey Pig Bread ''Butter Honey Pig Bread'' is Francesca Ekwuyasi's debut novel, a contemporary novel published September 3, 2020 by Arsenal Pulp Press. The book tells the story of three women, Kambirinachi and her twin daughters, Kehinde and Taiye, and takes pl ...

'', which was published in 2020. Originally from

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

,"Proud to Shine on the East Coast"

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, July 16, 2020. she is currently based in Halifax,

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

. In addition to her writing, she had an exhibition of paper cutout art at Halifax's

The Khyber The Khyber Building is a registered Historical Property owned by the Halifax Regional Municipality on Barrington Street in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Until 2014, it was operated as an artist-run centre, public art gallery and social space by Khyber Ar ...

in 2019, and has directed short documentary films including ''Reconcile'' and '' Black & Belonging''. ''Butter Honey Pig Bread'' was selected for the 2021 edition of ''

Canada Reads ''Canada Reads'' is an annual "battle of the books" competition organized and broadcast by Canada's public broadcaster, the CBC. The program has aired in two distinct editions, the English-language ''Canada Reads'' on CBC Radio One, and the Frenc ...

'', where it was defended by celebrity chef

Roger Mooking Roger Mooking is a Trinidadian-Canadian chef, musician, and television host. Mooking is the host of the television series '' Man Fire Food'' (2012 to present). He is also the host and co-creator of ''Everyday Exotic''. Both programs aired on the ...

. The book was longlisted for the 2020

Giller Prize The Giller Prize (sponsored as the Scotiabank Giller Prize), is a literary award given to a Canadian author of a novel or short story collection published in English (including translation) the previous year, after an annual juried competition be ...

, and shortlisted for the 2021

Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction The Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction is an annual literary award, presented by the Lambda Literary Foundation to a work of fiction on lesbian themes. As the award is presented based on themes in the work, not the sexuality or gender of t ...

, the 2021

ReLit Award The ReLit Awards are Canadian literary prizes awarded annually to book-length works in the novel, short-story and poetry categories."Three indie writers honoured by ReLit Awards". ''The Globe and Mail'', July 19, 2007. Founded in 2000 by Newfoundla ...

for fiction, the

Amazon.ca First Novel Award The Amazon.ca First Novel Award, formerly the Books in Canada First Novel Award, is a Canadian literary award, co-presented by Amazon.ca and ''The Walrus'' to the best first novel in English language, English published the previous year by a citize ...

and the 2020 Governor General's Award for

English fiction English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

. In 2022, it won the

Dayne Ogilvie Prize The Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ Emerging Writers is a Canadian literary award, presented annually by the Writers' Trust of Canada to an emerging Canadian writer who is part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer community. Origina ...

.Deborah Dundas
"Writers’ Trust 2022 book award winners collect $270,000 in prizes"
''

Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part ...

'', November 2, 2022. She identifies as

queer ''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against those with same-sex desires or relationships in the late 19th century. Beginning in the lat ...

References

21st-century Canadian novelists 21st-century Canadian artists 21st-century Canadian women writers Canadian women novelists Canadian women artists Canadian documentary film directors Black Canadian writers Black Canadian artists Black Canadian women Black Canadian LGBT people Canadian LGBT artists Queer writers Queer women Canadian LGBT novelists Writers from Halifax, Nova Scotia Writers from Lagos Artists from Nova Scotia Artists from Lagos Nigerian emigrants to Canada Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Black Canadian filmmakers {{Canada-writer-stub