Picture a Nigerian-born storyteller who weaves haunting tales of cultural duality and magical realism—meet Helen Oyeyemi! At just 19, she captivated the literary world with her debut novel, The Icarus Girl, and hasn’t slowed down since. Known for her lyrical prose and imaginative storytelling, Oyeyemi explores identity, migration, and the supernatural, making her a standout voice in contemporary fiction.
Born in 1984 in Nigeria and raised in South London, Oyeyemi’s unique perspective shapes her work, blending West African folklore with European fairy tales. Her novels and short stories are like stepping into a dream—unsettling, beautiful, and impossible to forget. Let’s dive into her extraordinary life and stories!
The Making of Helen Oyeyemi
Helen Olajumoke Oyeyemi was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, and moved to Lewisham, South London, at age four. An introspective child, she found solace in books, rewriting endings to classics like Little Women. Despite battling depression in her teens, Oyeyemi’s creativity flourished. At 18, while studying for her A-levels, she wrote The Icarus Girl in secret, landing a two-book deal with Bloomsbury. She later studied social and political sciences at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where her plays Juniper’s Whitening and Victimese were performed and published.
Now based in Prague since 2013, Oyeyemi’s peripatetic life—spanning Paris, Toronto, and Berlin—infuses her work with a global sensibility. Her early struggles and love for storytelling shaped a career that continues to surprise and enchant readers worldwide.
Helen Oyeyemi’s Unforgettable Stories
Oyeyemi’s bibliography is a treasure trove of inventive narratives. Her debut, The Icarus Girl (2005), follows Jessamy, a British-Nigerian girl haunted by an imaginary friend or ghostly twin, blending Yoruba folklore with psychological depth. Critics hailed its raw, youthful prose, with the New York Times calling it a “masterly first novel.” Her second novel, The Opposite House (2007), draws on Cuban mythology, exploring migration through a mythical “somewhereshouse” connecting Lagos and London.
White Is for Witching (2009), a gothic tale of twins and a possessive house in Dover, won the 2010 Somerset Maugham Award and was a Shirley Jackson Award finalist. Boy, Snow, Bird (2014) reimagines Snow White, tackling race and identity in 1950s America, while her short story collection, What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours (2016), won the PEN Open Book Award for its enchanting, key-themed tales. Her latest, Parasol Against the Axe (2024), set in Prague, showcases her evolving style with a playful, shape-shifting narrative.
Oyeyemi’s writing is marked by magical realism, fractured fairy tales, and themes of dislocation, identity, and wounded matrilineages. Her prose, described by Ali Smith as “elegant” and “gleaming,” dances between realism and the surreal, inviting readers into worlds where the ordinary meets the uncanny.
Why Helen Oyeyemi Matters
Helen Oyeyemi’s work transcends borders, blending cultures and genres to reflect the complexities of modern identity. Her ability to weave West African and European traditions into contemporary stories has earned her accolades, including a spot on Granta’s 2013 Best Young British Novelists list. By exploring migration, race, and the supernatural, she challenges readers to confront fractured selves and lost homelands.
Her influence extends beyond books—Oyeyemi has judged prestigious awards like the International Booker Prize and delivered lectures at institutions like Oxford. For readers, her stories offer a mirror to the in-between spaces of life, making her a vital voice in global literature.
- Born: December 10, 1984, in Ibadan, Nigeria
- Key Works: The Icarus Girl, White Is for Witching, Boy, Snow, Bird, What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours
- Awards: Somerset Maugham Award (2010), PEN Open Book Award (2016)
- Current Home: Prague, Czech Republic
About Helen Oyeyemi
Snag White Is for Witching or What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours and dive into Helen Oyeyemi’s spellbinding world of magical realism!