Jollof Boy

Syl Cheney-Coker is a distinguished Sierra Leonean writer born in Freetown, known for his powerful exploration of exile, identity, and African experience. Educated across multiple American universities, including University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he developed a global literary perspective that significantly influenced his work. His poetry and writing are characterized by radical, erudite styles that blend Western and African literary techniques. Cheney-Coker's literary career spans poetry collections like "The Blood in The Desert's Eyes," "Stone Child & Other Poems," and the revised "Road to Jamaica," and his acclaimed novel "The Last Harmattan of Alusine Dunbar," which won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize in 1991. The novel, inspired by magical realism and drawing from Atlantic slave trade histories, represents a distinctive break from traditional African novel narratives.
His life has been marked by political turbulence, including a narrow escape during Sierra Leone's 1997 military coup. Despite periods of exile, including a residency in Las Vegas's City of Asylum program, he ultimately returned to Sierra Leone in 2003, declaring that "exile is neither justifiable nor tolerable." A journalist and poet deeply engaged with his homeland's complex history, Cheney-Coker continues to be a significant voice in contemporary African literature.