“I don't think there's a common or popular understanding of indigenous faith tradition being valid philosophies,” Emezi said. The inclination to label “Freshwater” as a novel about mental illness, in many ways, erases the legitimacy of Igbo spirituality. Her journey, filled with loss, leaves one emotionally bruised or pulsing with sad familiarity. is that you’re supposed to be in the spirit world.” With “one foot on the other side,” Ada eventually migrates from Nigeria to America. “It’s because she’s embodied,” Emezi emphasized. While some book critics and reviewers have interpreted the novel as an allegory for mental illness, Emezi pointed out that the problem with Ada is not the ogbanje or the things that have happened to her. Ada is essentially a god “stuffed into a bag of skin” and after a traumatic experience, the other identities begin to assert more autonomy. This dissonance takes Ada into some dark, deep places, from self- harming to the loss of friendships and relationships to loss of self - spaces and experiences Emezi describes in razor detail. She shares it with other identities called the ogbanje, beings from Igbo ontology who are not supposed to be born into human flesh. (Courtesy)Īda, the novel’s main character, is not the only one in her body. Emezi’s experiences of being transgender and being “ a spirit customizing its vessel to reflect its nature” inform portions of the plot of “Freshwater.” 'Freshwater' cover. It’s a semi-autobiographical tale, an emotional cyclone centered around Emezi’s own realities unearthing their identity as a being that is more than just human flesh. 11.Ī New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and longlisted for the Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize, “Freshwater” is teeth and warmth and worship, all at once. In two semesters, Emezi wrote what became their debut novel “Freshwater.” They’re slated to delve into the novel, and other works, at MASS MoCA on Thursday, Oct. “Although the pets are your patients, the people are your clients.”Īfter leaving the veterinary field behind, they applied to the MFA program at Syracuse University. The Nigerian author originally moved to Boston to attend Tufts University for veterinary medicine in 2013, but soon realized the field wasn’t for them. “Reading and writing were always hand in hand for me.” “I started writing when I was 5, at the same time when I started reading,” they said in a recent interview. By 7 years old, they read through all of the books in their parent’s house. Writing flows through Akwaeke Emezi like water.

Akwaeke Emezi (Courtesy Elizabeth Wirija) This article is more than 4 years old.

Emezi freshwater