Books
The writers latest novel,Noor, is in some ways her most personal yet.
For the first eight years of her writing career,Nnedi Okoraforkept her work private.
Even if it was terrible, and I knew it was terrible.
Shes published over two dozen books, graphic novels,and comics.
And thats not to mention all the projects she cant talk about just yet.
Prose is my playground, she says.
No writing is like it.
Okorafors latest prose work isNoor, her fourth novel for adults.
This is all a lot to explain, she laughs as she recounts the books themes.
A knowledge of your strengths: a benefit, perhaps, of spending time alone with your writing.
Below, Okorafor talks about Africanfuturism, disability representation in science fiction, and her hatred of labels.
In the disability advocacy community, theres a growing trend of people who identify as cyborgs.
Did you have that in mind when you were writing AO?
Yes, I did.
I had spinal surgery for severe scoliosis.
That was a big turning point: I went from mega-athlete to paralyzed in a hospital bed.
So I have metal in my body a large rod of metal latched to my spine.
And after recovery, after literally learning how to walk again, I still have my own invisible disability.
My balance is very bad.
My proprioception sometimes I dont know where my feet are.
These are things I live with every day.
I identify with that idea of viewing yourself as a cyborg.
Its not something where Im lamenting every day about it.
It was my choice.
AOs disability seems inextricable from the story ofNoor.
Its such a part of how I live that writing about this character was natural.
Thats really the standpoint I was coming from, the living of it.
The conversation wasnt a big part of the genesis of the story.
Theres no name for it, because its so specific.
So I live it, and I cant explain it.
It was so much to explain.
I got sick of explaining.
I felt like, OK, if I wrote the book, people would see it and theyll know.
So when I wrote this story, it was kind of like that.
The experience of [living with disabilities] was very close to [AO].
Thats part of what gets her into trouble.
Do you feel that AOs story is closer to home than your other protagonists?
All of my protagonists are always close to me in some way.
In this one, it was nice writing a character with disabilities.
When Ive written my other characters, its something that I think about.
The closeness was there.
She was a refreshing character to write, in that regard.
We dont see a lot of disability representation in speculative fiction.
Theres the idea that magic or technology will eradicate disability.
Did you get any pushback for writing this disabled protagonist in a sci-fi setting?
Even before I wroteNoor I think of the engineer Hugh Herr, Ive spoken to him before.
He created these prosthetic limbs that are just freakin amazing.You should watch his TED Talk.
Ever since I saw those things, I was like, I would totally, totally wear those.
And I told him that, too.
I remember when the filmAvatarwas out.
There was a lot of discussion about the main character and how he could go into this new body.
That scene makes me cry every time I watch it.
Was there any particular message about disability and technology that you wanted readers to take away from the book?
I think the main one is to be what you are.
I feel like the words cant contain what Im trying to say.
AO is born with all of these issues, and shes born within a culture that judges those things.
And then to have these augmentations, like, How dare you give a shot to be comfortable?
How dare you make a run at find your own way through this?
You just have to be.
This is what was given to you.
Did you have those things in mind when you were writing this near-future Nigeria?
Oh, most definitely.
All of that, from Chicago to Nigeria.
I didnt know that Chicago had themostsurveillance, but that makes sense.
Because since I moved to Phoenix, Im flabbergasted by the lack of surveillance.
Im like, Where are the teens?!
Arent they supposed to be doing something?
Thats their job, mess with that stuff!
So that definitely influenced the world ofNoor, and then also Nigerias cybercide.
Its all in there.
That global sense of surveillance and growing corporate influence that all went right intoNoor.
Noorreminds us that narratives are still being manipulated against people in marginalized communities.
Its like [the game] Telephone.
When you boil it all down, its the idea that the narratives are getting out and causing conversation.
As youre saying, stories can always be manipulated …
This idea of truth, its subjective but it can also be easily corrupted.
And its not just about manipulating the narrative, its also about where you cut the narrative.
Its both fascinating and terrifying, and it is a double-edged sword.
But would I want [the technology] to not exist?
No, because its a powerful tool.
Im glad it exists.
We can already see the positives.
Kirkus Reviewssaid thatNoordefinedAfricanfuturism, which youve spent a lot of time distinguishing Africanfuturism from Afrofuturism.
How do you feel about being held up as the spokesperson or poster child for Africanfuturism?
First of all, Im the last person who harps on labels.
I cant stand labels.
Thats how I ended up reading Stephen KingsItwhen I was 12.
Coining the termAfricanfuturismand its definition, it was a necessary thing.
Thats how necessary it was formeto dothat, when I dont even like discussing labels.
Every story is different and doing its own thing; why do we have to talk about labels?
But without giving [Africanfuturism] a name, it was not being understood.
Well, do you think this is Africanfuturism?
Im like, I dont know.
I dont do that.
I just gave you the definition, and do with it what you will.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
This article was originally published onNovember 22, 2021
