Famous Nigerian author, Capt. Elechi Amadi, has died at age 82. Amadi, who wrote famous books like The Concubine, Isiburu, Sunset in Biafra, and Peppersoup and The Road to Ibadan, died at about 3:15pm on Wednesday, about a week after he became ill.


He was billed to be at Wednesday’s annual book reading programme organised in Port Harcourt by Total Exploration and Production, but could not make it as a result of his ill health.

Born on May 12, 1934 in Aluu in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Elechi Amadi attended Government College, Umuahia (1948–52), Survey School, Oyo (1953–54), and the University of Ibadan (1955–59), where he obtained a degree in Physics and Mathematics.

He worked as a land surveyor at a time and later was a teacher at several schools, including the Nigerian Military School, Zaria (1963–66). Amadi served in the Nigerian army, remained there during the Nigerian Civil War, and retired at the rank of Captain.

He then held various positions with the Rivers State Government Permanent Secretary (1973–83), Commissioner for Education (1987–88) and Commissioner for Lands and Housing (1989–90).