A Literary Journey Shaped by Determination and Cultural Pride. –
Sunny Abakwue’s literary career is a convincing story of determination, cultural identity, and a steadfast commitment to storytelling. Born in Biafra, Africa and originally destined for a career in medicine, his life took an unexpected turn when he felt a powerful drive of inspiration to write during his student days in America in 1983. This moment of clarification wasn’t just a temporary longing but the beginning of a lifelong passion for writing that continues to flourish decades later.
His initial journey into writing ended in a manuscript penned in Igbo, his native language, symbolizing a deep-rooted connection to his African heritage. The script, spanning over 400 pages, faced a long journey toward publication, finally seeing the light of day in January 2024. His tale is not just about writing books but capturing the rich culture of African culture into narratives that resonate globally.
The path to getting his voice heard was full of challenges. Early in his career, he reached out to American publishers, but was met with tough resistance primarily because his story was in a foreign language. Not one to give up easily, he extended his scope, seeking international publishers through resources like the “International Literary Marketplace.” This led him to contact over 2,000 publishers and agents worldwide: a proof to his determination.
Despite numerous rejections and the financial burden on his efforts, his spirit remained strong and steadfast. His pursuit highlighted a critical encounter with a major publisher, where he faced a request that struck at the core of his identity: to change his last name, Abakwue, to something more ‘marketable.’ Standing firm, he chose to honor his heritage, reflecting his strong belief that one’s name and by extension, one’s culture holds inherent value that should not be compromised for acceptance.
He turned to self-publishing. And he began to make more and more publishing progress. For example, he organized one book-show after another. The book events drew, not only the crowd, but also the media. He organized media interviews, and conducted book signings at significant venues, which slowly but surely helped build his literary reputation. This route was not just a pure radical alternative, but a strategic move that brought his stories to readers while allowing him to maintain his cultural integrity.
His creative output is nothing short of surprising, with 38 published books on the market, plus 24 new manuscripts ready. His works show a wide range, from fiction and plays to nonfiction, essays, and poetry. Notable among the books of poetry is “Mother’s Advice,” which encourages young people to be obedient to their parents, and “Heaven at War,” a 714-page epic detailing the war between God’s angels and Lucifer. Moreover, his books “Amazing Success” and ‘USE THE WINNER’S WILL WITHIN YOU” inspire readers to overcome hardship, while “Pluck the Hanging Gold” and “Abundant Wealth” offer new perspectives on helping oneself.
His latest works include “IGBO DI NFE and IJE NWAMKPI,” an Igbo-language novel, and a series of plays like “NNANNA UGORJI SERIES,” an epic Shakespearean-style saga comprising seven volumes. The seven-volume NNANNA UGORJI is a tale of wonders, intrigues and near-death inspiration about the horrors of enslavement. According to him:
“In the year 2015, my older brother, Mr. Francis Abakwue came to America to visit me and his second son, Dr. George Nnamdi Francis. During his stay with me, he told me a wonderful story about the life and time of a lad called NNANNA UGORJI. For six solid months, he told me the story of what the lad went through in life. For example, the lad was kidnapped by two of his father’s uncles. He was sold into slavery. The man who bought him was a Great Dibia in Oru-land. The Great Dibia or Sangoma wanted to use the lad for an uncommon ritual sacrifice…so that he would acquire uncommon spiritual powers. However, he had a change of heart, because the lad, NNANNA UGORJI was ‘very quick in obedience’. Therefore, he bought a second slave for the uncommon ritual sacrifice. And he decided to train Nnanna Ugorji in his great art of Dibiahood, because he had no son. None of his six wives then had given him a male child.
NNANNA UGORJI was a very brilliant learner. The Great Dibia taught the lad all the things that he knew about Dibiahood. Fifty years later when the Great Dibia was about to join his ancestors in the land of every living soul, he decided to set the slave, NNANNA UGORJI free. And with all the healing and magical powers that he learnt from his generous master, NNANNA UGORJI returned to the village where he was born.
The two men who sold him into slavery…now old men, were terrified because what they did fifty years earlier was made public. He forgave them. But the two evil men did not trust his forgiveness. With all the powers at his disposal, NNANNA UGORJI became the Greatest Dibia in the Igboland. His fame and healing powers turned the tide of an epidemic, the dreaded ‘small pox’, in the land.
While my older brother was telling me the story, I took detailed notes of all the things he told me. For example, the monumental story turned into a seven-volume literary project. And the manuscripts, NNANNA UGORJI SERIES, are, indeed, the REAL DEALS. They are the PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATIONS OF OUR PUREST AFRICAN MAGIC AND UNCOMMON HEALING-POWERS. In the seven-volume manuscripts, one would see: (A) A ROLLING AFRICAN MAGICAL EGG LEADING A LIBERATED SLAVE FROM THE TRUE VILLAGE OF BONDAGE TO A REAL VILLAGE OF FREEDOM; (B) ONE WOULD SEE SWARMS OF ENCHANTED BEES THAT STUNG AND STOPPED TWO GROUPS OF ARMED WARRIORS WHO WERE ABOUT TO SLAUGHTER EACH OTHER IN AN INTER-VILLAGE BATTLE. (C) ONE WOULD SEE A MAGICAL PYTHON AND A TIGER LEADING YOUNG MEN TO A DISTANT VILLAGE TO RESCUE KIDNAPPED BOYS, GIRLS AND WOMEN FROM SLAVE-HUNTERS. (D) ONE WOULD BECOME A LIVING WITNESS TO THE MIRACULOUS HEALING OF THE OLD COUPLE, THE PARENTS OF THE BRITISH COLONIAL REPRESENTATIVE WHO WERE AFFLICTED BY THE SO-CALLED ‘INCURABLE DISEASE’, KNOWN IN LOCAL LANGUAGE AS ‘OHOGHOHO’ OR, ALZHEIMER’S. ETC.,
The story was so monumental in that I kept aside all the literary projects that I was working on. The story turned out into the seven-volume scripts. Each of the seven volumes has about 450 handwritten pages. It’s a true story. My typist has started to type them. Thank you”
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Then, he confidently added a shocker to the publishing world:
“My fans here in Massachusetts, U. S. A call me ‘THE GREATEST AUTHOR’ because I have unusual literary talents. I use the word, ‘talents’ because, I write fiction, non-fiction, plays, essays and poems. I write not only in the English language, but also in the language of heaven, called IGBO LANGUAGE. Please, note this: SHOULD THE WORLD OF BOOK LOVERS VIEW MS. RAWLING, THE AMIABLE AUTHOR OF HARRY POTTER SERIES AS THEIR LITERARY JOHN THE BAPTIST, THEN, THEY TOO SHOULD BE READY TO EMBRACE ME AND MY WORKS AS THEIR LITERARY JESUS CHRIST”
Sunny Abakwue is currently working on volume eight of the “WAHALA“ series. For example, (1) THE PREACHER WAS A PROPHET: (BLACK WAHALA); (2) THE LEADER WAS A TERROR: (RED WAHALA). His goal is to make this literary epic a ten-volume series.
He is of firm conviction that his readers would find encouragement, motivation, and a deeper appreciation for cultural heritage through his books. He sees his writing as a unique divine gift and aims to use it to inspire millions to achieve greatness, while solidly maintaining their cultural identity, even against all odds.
Reflecting on his journey, his advice to promising authors is heartfelt.
“The key to success is encouragement. Through it, one would definitely determine his or her true friends” said Sunny Abakwue.
Evidently, he advised would-be authors to surround themselves with those who would encourage them. He emphasized the importance of encouragement over criticism, advising writers to seek out and cherish supporters who foster their creativities
Sunny Abakwue literary journey is more than a personal success story: It’s a story of cultural pride and the changing power of literature. His life and works encourage us to stay true to our roots and persevere in the face of hardship. For him, writing is not just about crafting stories but about inspiring change and building an appreciation for one’s heritage in readers around the world. His continuing legacy will certainly inspire generations of writers to come, reminding them that with faith, belief, and the right support, they too can make their voices heard.
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