Obinna Udenwe Set to Launch Explosive Historical Novel “Years of Shame”

Renowned Nigerian author and Ebonyi State native, Obinna Udenwe, is set to release his latest novel titled Years of Shame, a bold and historically grounded work of fiction that probes the hidden histories of Aro dominance in Southeastern Nigeria.

The official public presentation of the book is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 26, 2025.

Set against the backdrop of the infamous Aro Confederacy and its far-reaching influence in the Igbo hinterlands between the 17th and 20th centuries, Years of Shame revisits an era marked by conquest, spiritual domination, colonial collaboration, and cultural subjugation.

Through meticulous historical reconstruction and compelling storytelling, Udenwe sheds light on one of the most complex and controversial periods in the socio-political development of the Abakaliki region, now in modern-day Ebonyi State.

Udenwe described Years of Shame as a novel born out of a deep need to interrogate the silent past.

“This novel is set against the historical backdrop of the Arochukwu hegemony, which held sway across many Igbo communities up to the 1970s,” the author explained. “To truly understand Years of Shame, one must first appreciate the rise of the Aro Confederacy, their religious dominance via the Ibini Ukpabi oracle, their central role in both the indigenous and Trans-Atlantic slave trades, and ultimately, their political integration into British colonial rule.”

According to historical records and Udenwe’s narrative, the Aro Confederacy expanded its reach through military, religious, and commercial networks. Their influence, backed by the fearsome Ibini Ukpabi oracle, extended from present-day Abia State into parts of Cross River, Ebonyi, and even as far as Southern Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Their agents—often installed as priests, merchants, and community leaders—held sway over many communities and acted as both enforcers of Aro interests and intermediaries to colonial powers.

In Years of Shame, Udenwe explores how this centuries-long dominance took root in the Abakaliki area, where the Aro entrenched themselves in commerce, politics, and community leadership. The novel focuses on real historical tensions that culminated in the rarely documented Izii-Aro War of 1970—a brutal uprising believed to have occurred under the shadows of the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War.

The book draws attention to the character of Chief Vincent Agwu Nwankwo, a historically inspired figure said to have been one of the most powerful and feared men in Abakaliki during the 1960s. As the founder of Vincent Agwu Nwankwo & Co (VANCO)—for whom the popular VANCO Junction in Abakaliki is named—he represents a generation of Aro elites who exercised economic and political authority over local populations, often with impunity.

Local oral history, as woven into the narrative, recounts the murder of an Izii man who dared to challenge VANCO’s power during a community meeting. This assassination is said to have triggered a three-day riot in 1970 that saw the massacre of hundreds of Aro settlers and the dismantling of their long-standing dominance in Abakaliki.

“This was a period marked by silent suffering, forgotten crimes, and an uneasy coexistence,” Udenwe said. “The riot was a reckoning—a reaction to years of land dispossession, forced labor, political exclusion, and social humiliation. Years of Shame gives voice to that forgotten pain.”

The novel is expected to resonate deeply in Southeast Nigeria, particularly among communities in Ebonyi State that were directly affected by Aro expansionism. It is also likely to generate renewed academic interest in the Aro Confederacy, which has often been treated with reverence or silence in mainstream Igbo historiography.

Critics and scholars familiar with Udenwe’s work have praised his courage in tackling such sensitive historical subjects. Known for previous novels like Satans and Shaitans and Holy Sex, Udenwe has carved a niche for himself as a bold storyteller unafraid of confronting Nigeria’s most uncomfortable truths.

The book launch event will be held in Abakaliki and is expected to attract a cross-section of guests, including historians, cultural scholars, writers, students, and traditional rulers. Discussions at the launch will center on the importance of reclaiming hidden histories and the role of fiction in healing collective trauma.

Years of Shame is set to be more than just a literary milestone—it promises to be a cultural awakening and a daring contribution to the conversation around power, memory, and justice in postcolonial Nigeria.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the launch and through major bookstores and online platforms thereafter.

Who Is Obinna Udenwe ?

Obinna Udenwe is a distinguished Nigerian novelist, short-story writer, and public intellectual, widely regarded as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary African literature. Hailing from Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, Udenwe has built a reputation for weaving powerful narratives that confront the social, political, and historical realities of Nigeria—particularly those affecting the Southeast.

Known for his fearless storytelling, Udenwe rose to national prominence with the publication of Satans & Shaitans, a gripping political thriller that exposed the dark entanglements between terrorism, politics, and religion in modern Nigeria. His subsequent works, including the award-winning Colours of Hatred, further established him as a writer unafraid to challenge societal norms or revisit painful histories. In 2021, Colours of Hatred earned him the inaugural Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature and a shortlisting for the NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature, cementing his place among Nigeria’s literary elite.

Beyond fiction, Udenwe has played a vital role in nurturing young talent. He co-founded the Village Square Journal and serves as a co-editor of the Ebedi Review, contributing to the development of Nigeria’s literary infrastructure. Though trained as a civil engineer, Udenwe has successfully bridged the worlds of literature, social entrepreneurship, and mentorship, establishing himself as a multifaceted cultural figure.

In 2025, his forthcoming novel Years of Shame drew significant attention after he signed a landmark ₦5 million publishing deal with Purple Shelves—one of the biggest book contracts in recent Nigerian history. The novel explores the controversial legacy of the Aro Confederacy and its impact on the people of Abakaliki and beyond, signaling Udenwe’s continued commitment to unearthing hidden truths and giving voice to silenced histories.

Obinna Udenwe is not only a storyteller but also a cultural historian, using fiction as a lens through which Nigeria’s complex past and troubled present can be examined and understood.