Oil on Water is a 2010 petrofiction novel by Nigerian author Helon Habila.[1][2] The novel documents the experience of two journalists as they try to rescue a kidnapped European wife in the oil landscape of the Niger Delta. The novel explores themes of both the ecological and political consequences of oil conflict and petrodollars in the delta.[3][4][5]
 | |
| Author | Helon Habila |
|---|---|
| Genre | Petrofiction |
| Publisher | Penguin Books |
Publication date | August 5, 2010 |
| ISBN | 978-0-241-14486-2 |
Plot
editOil on Water is a story about two people, Rufus, an emerging journalist, and Zaq, a famous reporter.They went to the Niger Delta in pursuit of an abducted white woman named Isabel Floode, who was used as a bargaining chip in Nigeria's civil war.
Reception
editReviews
editThe novel was well received. Orion magazine called it "a powerful work, one that reaffirms that art done well is always big enough to contain politics".[3] The Guardian's Rachel Aspden called it a "powerful, accomplished third novel [that] displays a growing pessimism about journalism's capacity to effect change."[4]
Awards
edit| Year | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Commonwealth Writers Prize (Africa) | Shortlist | [6][7] |
| 2012 | PEN/Open Book Award | Shortlist | [8][9] |
| 2013 | Orion Book Award | Shortlist | [10] |
References
edit- ^ Riddle, Amy. "Petrofiction and Political Economy in the Age of Late Fossil Capital". Mediations: Journal of the Marxist Literary Group. 31 (2). Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ "Oil on Water". Kirkus Reviews. 6 March 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ a b Pancake, Ann. "Oil on Water". Orion Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ a b Aspden, Rachel (28 August 2010). "Oil on Water by Helon Habila | Book review". the Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ Egya, Sule Emmanuel (2017). "Literary Militancy and Helon Habila's Oil on Water". Research in African Literatures. 48 (4): 94–104. doi:10.2979/reseafrilite.48.4.07. ISSN 0034-5210. JSTOR 10.2979/reseafrilite.48.4.07. S2CID 166108633. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ "Helon Habila, Nigerian Literary Genius". LifeAndTimes News. 10 June 2017. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "2011 prize: regional shortlist". Commonwealth Foundation. Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ "Helon Habila". Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "2012 PEN Open Book Award". pen.org. 14 November 2012. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ Omoniyi, Tosin (11 November 2017). "Helon Habila, Maaza Mengiste named The New American Voices award judges". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 28 May 2020.