Wana Udobang
Wana Udobang, also known as Wana Wana, is a Nigerian writer, poet, journalist, filmmaker, and television personality. Her work has appeared in prominent platforms such as BBC, Al Jazeera, Huffington Post, BellaNaija, and The Guardian. She has been described as "one of the biggest champions of our new spoken word renaissance is taking a leap into the void."
Biography and Career
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Wana Udobang earned a first-class degree in Journalism from the University for the Creative Arts in the United Kingdom.
After graduation, she worked as a freelance features producer for the BBC World Service and later as a researcher at: - Wise Buddah Productions - Above the Title Productions - Somethin' Else
Upon returning to Nigeria, she spent six years at 92.3 Inspiration FM, Lagos, as a radio presenter and producer.
Writing and Performance
Wana’s fiction and poetry have appeared in Brittle Paper and other online and print publications. She is also an alumna of the Farafina Creative Writers Workshop, organized annually by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
As a performance poet, she has performed across Nigeria. Her spoken-word albums include:
- Dirty Laundry (2013) – her debut spoken-word album
- In Memory of Forgetting (2017)
Described as "incredibly brave", the album is a "feminist dog whistle" focusing on female resilience, trauma, triumphs, and self-renewal. Udobang called it "a collection of memories navigating experiences that range from places of brokenness and questioning to self-renewal."
International Recognition
In 2020, Udobang was selected to participate in the 54th International Writing Program (IWP) Fall Residency at the University of Iowa, sponsored by the United States Department of State.
To date, 35 Nigerian literary figures have participated in the IWP. Notable alumni include:
- Elechi Amadi (1973)
- Cyprian Ekwensi (1974)
- Ola Rotimi (1980)
- Femi Osofisan (1986)
- Niyi Osundare (1988)
- Festus Iyayi (1990)
- Lola Shoneyin (1999)
- Obari Gomba (2016)
- Tade Ipadeola (2019)