Hillsdale College Hosts Chigozie Obioma for Lecture on Confrontation in Literature
Obioma leads Hillsdale’s Creative Writing Honors Program.
HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College hosted Distinguished Teaching Fellow Chigozie Obioma on Nov. 11 for a lecture titled “Confrontation in Literature.” Obioma visits campus annually as part of Hillsdale’s Creative Writing Honors Program.
“Professor Obioma first came to campus in 2021 as part of the Visiting Writers Program,” said Professor of English Dutton Kearney. “He made such an impression that Dr. Arnn suggested he return regularly to teach a class at Hillsdale. He has taught a course for us each year since.”
“I cherish the students I have had over the past few years and believe that we will have great writers who will bring new blood and perspectives into American literature in the coming years.”
Born in Akure, Nigeria, Chigozie Obioma has written three novels: “The Fishermen,” “An Orchestra of Minorities,” and “The Road to the Country.” He is a two-time Booker Prize finalist.
“Students have always asked for creative writing classes, but the challenge is finding professors who do not loathe the Western literary tradition,” Kearney said. “Professor Obioma has been a great fit — he’s an interlocutor with whom students can have lengthy and fruitful conversations about the virtues and vices of classic and modern literature alike.”
Obioma teaches Hillsdale’s Creative Writing Honors Program, an annual creative writing class limited to ten students. During the eight-week course, students read and discuss successful works of modern fiction. Each student then writes two original short stories. The class is mostly remote, but Obioma visits campus each year to have dinner with the students and read from his work or present a lecture.
“Hillsdale continues to hold a special place in my heart,” Obioma said. “It is a privilege to teach here and to visit every year. I cherish the students I have had over the past few years and believe that we will have great writers who will bring new blood and perspectives into American literature in the coming years.”
This year’s course culminated in a talk on notable character confrontations in fiction — a dive into tense moments in contemporary and classic fiction.