Books
THE arrival of “Corals of Youth,” Margaret Obiageli Olele’s debut novel has been greeted with a lot of excitement in the literary and communication world. The evocative and introspective book skillfully explores the intricate journey of self-discovery, the influence and complexities of cultural heritage, and the struggles of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood.
With its thought-provoking themes and powerful storytelling, “Corals of Youth” is set to resonate with readers and leave a lasting impact on the literary world. Set in the vibrant world of 1970s-90s Lagos, “Corals of Youth” is a captivating collective memoir with its unique narrative style.
It immerses the reader in a bygone era of cultural richness and identity formation with relevance for the present. Witty and sometimes cynical, this collective memoir expertly weaves together the author’s experiences and those of her peers, creating a stunning literal canvas of school life, escapades, relationships, and cultural influences in Lagos, Nigeria.
A leading public relations PR expert, Nkechi Alli Balogun, shared her experience about the book: “Just received this book with an appealing cover. On opening it, I am more inspired to read it because of the eligibility of the fonts and spacing. The title is apt, fresh, and captivating. The use of corals to define each moment makes the experience an invaluable one while at the same time reflecting the cultural aspect and the age of untainted innocence reminiscing on the good old days when children were content with what they had and proud of who they were. When safety was taken for granted and purity was guarded”.
The book is a testament to the power of storytelling, blending personal anecdotes, historical context, and cultural insights. With its universal themes of courage and self actualization, through the eyes of a young girl growing up in a middle-class family from Ibusa, Delta State, and living in Lagos, “Corals of Youth” explores the intersection of cultures, traditions, including the role of women and identities in a city where tradition meets modernity. With each “coral bead” of memory, the author takes us on a journey of self-discovery, laughter, and nostalgia, painting a vivid picture of a city that has become a melting pot of cultures.
In “Coral of Youth,” Olele masterfully weaves a narrative that follows a young protagonist’s journey as she navigates the challenges of adolescence, grapples with her cultural identity, and learns to embrace her uniqueness. With lyrical prose and a richly detailed setting, this book is a stunning exploration of the human experience. The book will be launched on the Africa Creative Market
“I am launching the ‘Corals of Youth’ at the Africa Creative Market, the prestigious event that will hold from September 17th to 20th, 2024, at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, under the theme “Innovation Meets Imagination.” ACM is a premier platform designed to bridge the global demand-supply gap for Africa, empower creatives for impact and sustainability, and foster diversity and equality in content creation. Any opportunity to underscore the value of the creative economy and showcasing the potentials resonates with me. The book captures the essence of what it means to be young and female, to be unique, and to find one’s place in the world,” said Olele. I hope this book resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds and inspires them to embrace their coral of youth. Though written in the first person, the protagonist is a metaphor for the young girl growing up in Lagos at this time, within the historical context, but with great cultural insights and influences from the major traditions in Nigeria. These come through different coral beads – extended family, creative writings, friends, neighbors, teachers, childhood playmates, school, key cities Kano, Asaba, Ibusa and the media. With universal themes of courage and resilience, friendship, love, and family, “Corals of Youth” will resonate with readers from all walks of life. I am looking forward to formally unveiling this book to readers in Nigeria,” Olele added.
‘Corals of Youth’ is now available in paperback and e-book formats, making it easily accessible to readers. It can be found at major online retailers, including Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
The author is no stranger in the Literary world. As one of the volunteer coordinator of the Ogunde Foundation, Margaret Olele worked closely with members of NANTAP, ANTAP and critical voices in the creative world in Nigeria in the early nineties. Margaret has also several published articles including Womankind and Buchi Emecheta, Let Us Pray for Patrick Sawyer, Who Stole the Meat from the Cooking Pot, The Pains of Success. Margaret Obiageli Olele is the Chief Executive Officer/ Executive Secretary of the American Business Council. Prior to this role she was the Corporate Affairs director for Pfizer in West, East and Southern African Markets responsible for public affairs and communication engagements and for three years led the Access, Key Accounts, Tenders, and Institution Business in addition to the Corporate Affairs role. She has over 30 years’ experience engaging governments in Africa on behalf of private sector and over 25 years leadership experience in the Food and Pharma Industry traversing Government Affairs, Business Development, regulatory, communication, Quality Management system auditing across sub- Sharan Africa. Margaret has provided expertise to Government Agencies including the technical standards and National Codex Alimentarius Committees of the Standard Organization of Nigeria, the Vetting and compliance Panel of Nigeria Advertising Regulatory Agency in charge of vetting all advertising and communication materials and more recently National Office of Technology, Acquisition and Promotion. She has also provided expertise and capacity building advisory to patient Advocacy Groups, Chambers, Women, trade and industry associations on growth and expansion strategies. Some of these include Africa Pharmaceutical Forum, International Alliance for Patient Associations (IAPO Africa), AMCHAM Cameroon, AMCHAM Mali and Wimbiz. Margaret hosts the American Business Council Podcast, The Business Exchange: How Business Works” and uses this platform to promote visibility of women leaders, entrepreneurs who are contributing to the different sectors of business in Nigerian and African economy. Margaret is a fellow of the Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria, the highest award of the Advertising Profession in Nigeria. She has a BA in English and Literature, MA in English, and a MSc. in Mass Communication specializing in Public Relations and Advertising. Margaret loves teaching and she was an Adjunct Faculty teaching brand strategy and Commumication at the Graduate school of Media and Communication at the Pan Atlantic University among others.
A.I
Sept. 4, 2024
Tags: “Corals of Youth”. Margaret Obiageli Olele
