Ben Okri Quotes

A collection of quotes by Ben Okri.

Ben Okri is a Nigerian-born novelist, poet, and essayist, widely regarded as one of Africa's most profound and influential writers. He was born on March 15, 1959, in Minna, Nigeria, and grew up in London after his family migrated to the United Kingdom when he was eight years old.

Okri first gained international recognition with his novel "The Famished Road" (1991), which won the prestigious Booker Prize. The book uses magical realism to explore the intertwining worlds of the spiritual and physical realities in a decaying African city. It remains one of Okri's most acclaimed works and solidified his reputation as a masterful storyteller.

Throughout his career, Okri has written numerous novels, short stories, and poetry collections that tackle profound themes such as colonialism, political corruption, myth, and the power of the human imagination. His poignant writing style carries a strong lyrical quality and often incorporates elements of African folklore and mythology.

Besides his literary work, Okri is also known for his activism and involvement in social causes. He has been a vocal advocate for freedom of expression and justice, using his platform to address issues such as human rights and the socio-political challenges faced by his homeland.

Ben Okri's contributions to world literature and his ability to bridge cultural divides have cemented his place as one of Africa's most celebrated and influential writers.

Politics is the art of the possible creativity is the art of

Politics is the art of the possible creativity is the art of the impossible.

I am not fighting for success, just to get more beauty out o

I am not fighting for success, just to get more beauty out of myself and share it with more people.

Literature doesn't have a country. Shakespeare is an African

Literature doesn't have a country. Shakespeare is an African writer. His Falstaff, for example, is very African in his appetite for life, his largeness of spirit. The characters of Turgenev are ghetto dwellers. Dickens' characters are Nigerians. Do y

Life Literature

The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create,

The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering.

I was born left-handed, but I was made to use my other hand.

I was born left-handed, but I was made to use my other hand. When I was writing 'Famished Road,' which was very long, I got repetitive stress syndrome. My right wrist collapsed, so I started using my left hand. The prose I wrote with my left hand came out denser, so later on I had to change it.

Magic becomes art when it has nothing to hide.

Magic becomes art when it has nothing to hide.

Don't despair too much if you see beautiful things destroyed

Don't despair too much if you see beautiful things destroyed, if you see them perish. Because the best things are always growing in secret.

The higher the artist, the fewer the gestures. The fewer the

The higher the artist, the fewer the gestures. The fewer the tools, the greater the imagination. The greater the will, the greater the secret failure.

Stories can conquer fear, you know. They can make the heart

Stories can conquer fear, you know. They can make the heart bigger.

The strange thing about Africa is how past, present and futu

The strange thing about Africa is how past, present and future come together in a kind of rough jazz, if you like.

I'm conscious of a series of circles working its way through

I'm conscious of a series of circles working its way through my life. And at this particular moment I have come round to the beginning of my writing cycle. It begins with poetry. There's hardly a day that goes past on which I don't write poetry.

One of the greatest gifts my father gave me - unintentionall

One of the greatest gifts my father gave me - unintentionally - was witnessing the courage with which he bore adversity. We had a bit of a rollercoaster life with some really challenging financial periods. He was always unshaken, completely tranquil, the same ebullient, laughing, jovial man.

The best writing is not about the writer, the best writing i

The best writing is not about the writer, the best writing is absolutely not about the writer, it's about us, it's about the reader.