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Internationally renowned for her award-winning plays, and novels, Dr. Tess Onwueme is the
literary soul-mate of Chinua Achebe, Wole Solyinka, and Ngugi wa Thiong'o. She is the first African woman
dramatist to break into their ranks, so that What Mama Said, Tell it to Women, Shakara: Dance-Hall Queen,
The Missing Face and The Reign of Wazobia become staples of international college and university curricula in
the 21st century (Dr. Sonja Darlington, 2004).
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A writer with an active conscience, Dr. Onwueme's provocative and humorous
writing and speaking often poke into taboo and controversial subjects. Her
work clearly reveals the untold/unheard stories of young women and the
poor who are caught in various crossfires with family, tradition, race, class,
gender, culture, and the politics of living in the challenging postcolonial societies
today. Her award-winning play, Shakara Dance-Hall Queen
kicked off the BBC World Drama Service international broadcast for the fall season of 2004.
Since joining the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
in 1994 as a Distinguished Professor of Cultural Diversity and Professor of English after her
years of teaching in both Nigerian and American universities, Dr. Onwueme continues to serve as
a role-model for women and youths through her inspirational writing and speaking that are
steadily shaping and transforming public consciousness of issues impacting black women and
youths in global societies today.
Dr. Onwueme was born in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria on September 8, 1955. She is married
with five children. Kenolisa Onwueme, Ebele Onwueme, Kunume Onwueme, Bundo Onwueme, and Malije
Onwueme.
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Dr. Onwueme's dramatic presentation.
WAZOBIA
THE BROKEN CALABASH
THE BROKEN CALABASH
Dr. Onwueme's dramatic presentation.
THEN SHE SAID IT!
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