Dillibe Onyeama

Charles Dillibe Ejiofor Onyeama (6 January 1951 – 10 November 2022) was a Nigerian author and publisher.[2][3][4] In 1969, he became the first black person to finish his studies at Eton College in England.[5] He wrote a book about his experiences of racism at Eton, Nigger at Eton, which resulted in his being banned from visiting the school by then-headmaster Michael McCrum.[6]

Dillibe Onyeama
Born
Charles Dillibe Onyeama

(1951-01-06)6 January 1951
Enugu, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now in Enugu State, Nigeria)
Died10 November 2022(2022-11-10) (aged 71)
Enugu, Nigeria
EducationEton College
Occupation(s)Author

Publisher and

Journalist
Notable workNigger at Eton (1972)
Children6
ParentCharles Onyeama (father)
RelativesGeoffrey Onyeama (brother)[1]

Biography

Dillibe Charles Onyeama was born in Enugu, Nigeria, in 1951,[7] the second son of Charles Onyeama, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Judge at the International Court of Justice who was himself the son of Onyeama of Eke, a ruling chief in the Nigerian chieftaincy system.[6][8] On the day of his birth, he became the first black boy to be registered to attend Eton College.[2] He attended preparatory school at Grove Park in Sussex,[9] before becoming a pupil at Eton in 1965, and leaving in 1969. Onyeama wrote a book while still a teenager about his experiences of racist discrimination and bullying at the elite British boarding school:[10] Nigger at Eton, published in 1972 by Leslie Frewin Limited,[11] which was republished by Penguin in 2022 with the title A Black Boy at Eton.[12]

Dillibe Onyeama giving a speech at one of his literary events

In 2020 the school's present headmaster, Simon Henderson, offered Onyeama an apology for the treatment he had received.[13] Onyeama said he would return to Eton to accept the apology as long as the costs of his trip were covered.[9]

Onyeama obtained a diploma from the Premier School of Journalism, incorporating the Writers School of Great Britain before returning to Nigeria In 1981, and establishing the publishing company Delta Publications, based in Enugu.[2][4]

Onyeama died from a heart attack on 10 November 2022, at the age of 71.[14][15][16]

Selected bibliography
  • Nigger at Eton, 1972
  • John Bull's Nigger, 1974
  • Sex is a Nigger's Game, 1976
  • Juju, 1977
  • Secret Society, 1978
  • The Return: Homecoming of a Negro from Eton, 1978
  • Chief Onyeama: The Story of an African God, 1982[17]
  • African Legend: The Incredible Story of Francis Arthur Nzeribe, 1984
  • The New Man: A Perspective in Evil, 2002
  • Dadi: The Man, the Legend : an Intimate Portrait of His Excellency Judge Charles Dadi Onyeama of the International Court of Justice, The Hague, 2021

References
  1. Silas, Don (14 November 2022). "Buhari reacts to death of Onyeama". Daily Post. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. Nwaubani, Adaobi Tricia (23 June 2020). "Eton College: Nigerian author recalls racist abuse". BBC News. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  3. Akaraiwe, Ikeazor A. (2001). Onyeama : eagle on the bench : an authorised biography of Nigeria's first Judge at the World Court, His Excellency, Judge Charles Dadi Onyeama, CFR, LL. D. (2nd ed.). Lagos: Touchstone Books. p. 171. ISBN 978-35019-5-X. OCLC 52449965.
  4. Ajeluorou, Anote (22 February 2017). "Dillibe Onyeama revives occult novels of the '80s". The Guardian (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  5. "Eton apologises to Nigerian ex-student for racism". BBC News. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  6. "The racist questions I was asked at Eton". BBC News. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  7. Mohdin, Aamna (11 February 2022). "Dillibe Onyeama, whose memoir of racist abuse at Eton shook the establishment". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  8. "Famous Families: Meet The Many Onyeamas Of Enugu". dailytrust.com. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  9. Bakare, Lanre (23 June 2020). "Nigerian ex-Eton pupil says he will return to accept racism apology". The Guardian.
  10. Renton, Alex (2017). Stiff Upper Lip: Secrets, Crimes and the Schooling of a Ruling Class. Hachette. ISBN 9781474600552.
  11. Nigger at Eton. Leslie Frewin Limited. 1972. ISBN 9780856320033.
  12. A Black Boy at Eton. Penguin. 3 February 2022.
  13. "Dillibe Onyeama: Eton college apologise to Nigerian ex-student for racism". BBC News – Pidgin. 23 June 2020.
  14. Ibietan, Omoniyi (14 November 2022). "Dillibe Onyeama: When death cuts so deep". Premium Times. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  15. Ajeluorou, Anote (12 November 2022). "Shock, grief as literary community mourns 'Nigger at Eton' author, Dillibe Onyeama". AnoteArtHub. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  16. Chioma, Unini (13 November 2022). "Dillibe Onyeama, Dies At 71". The Nigeria Lawyers. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  17. Adibe, Tony (24 February 2018). "FAMOUS FAMILIES: Meet The Many Onyeamas Of Enugu". Daily Trust. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
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