Nigerian novelist, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim’s latest novel, When We Were Fireflies has secured a spot on the prestigious 2024 Dublin Literary Award Longlist.
Published on March 7, 2023, by MASOBE BOOKS and nominated by the Abdullahi Muhammad Public Library, the novel blends elements of magical realism, historical narrative, and a quest for self-discovery.
The novel introduces readers to Yarima Lalo, a brooding artist, whose encounter with a moving train triggers memories of past lives, including two instances where he was murdered—once on a train.
As he grapples with these revelations, Lalo forms a crucial connection with Aziza – a woman with a complex past – as they embark on a journey to uncover remnants of his previous lives.
The looming threat of a third death in his current life adds urgency to their exploration, raising questions about the thin line between reality and the ethereal.
Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, a distinguished Nigerian creative writer and journalist, stands out for his literary accomplishments. His debut short-story collection, “The Whispering Trees,” was longlisted for the Etisalat Prize for Literature in 2014, with one of its stories shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing.
Ibrahim’s first novel, “Season of Crimson Blossoms,” clinched the prestigious Nigerian Prize for Literature in 2016.
In the months following the release of the novel, the author has held free writing workshops for young people, autographing, and distributing his novels to those unable to afford them.
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The novel unfolds against the backdrop of northern Nigerian cities such as Kano, Kafanchan, Kaduna, and Jos, interweaving the histories of the region’s tumultuous events. From the pogroms of 1966 to the contemporary Boko Haram insurgency, the narrative navigates through the complexities of Northern Nigeria’s volatile past.
The nomination coming from the Abdullahi Muhammad Public Library, recommended the author for his stylistic brilliance and philanthropy that followed the release of the novel.
