Dr Sebastian Okechukwu Mezu//ⓘ (born April 30, 1941) is a Nigerian writer, scholar, philanthropist, and publisher. He was involved in politics in Nigeria in the late 1970s.[1]
When the Biafran war broke out in 1967, due to the recognition of his valuable contributions and activism as a young scholar in the United States, where he had voluntarily translated volumes of documents for his country into French and other languages, Mezu was appointed Biafran Government Special Representative and Ambassador to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, at the age of 27 by Colonel C. Odumegwu Ojukwu and was charged with affairs in Francophone and Anglophone West Africa.[3]
Mezu was the co-founder and Deputy Director of the Biafra Historical Research Center, Paris, July 1967 – July 1968, then Biafra's semi-official diplomatic mission to France and Europe. He was Biafran delegate and French expert to various peace delegations including to Ivory Coast (President Félix Houphouët-Boigny), Senegal, (President Leopold Sedar Senghor), Gabon (President Albert Bernard Bongo), and was Biafran delegate and French expert to various peace conferences in Niamey, Niger Republic (President Hamani Diori, 1968) and in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia (Emperor Haile Selassie, 1968).
Black Academy Pressedit
In 1969 Mezu established Black Academy Press, Inc, in Buffalo, New York,[4] one of the first black-owned academic publishing companies that set the tone for Africana studies in the 1960s in the US.[5] Black Academy Press remains one of the longest standing historic black publishing companies today.
Political careeredit
In the 1970s, Mezu founded the Imo State branch of the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) and as Secretary of the NPP he installed and helped to elect to office Governor Samuel Onunaka Sam Mbakwe and other notable names. Following the success of the NPP at the polls, Mezu became Chairman of the Golden Breweries Limited (1979–80), rehabilitating and revitalizing the brewery during a $50 million expansion; and as chairman of Imo State Newspapers Ltd where he raised the daily circulation of the Nigerian Statesman from 50,000 to 150,000.
He was Campaign Director, Party Secretary and principal architect of the NPP, which won a landslide victory (over 80%) in the Imo State Legislative, Gubernatorial and Presidential Elections in Nigeria in 1979.
Selected bibliographyedit
The Philosophy of Pan-Africanism, editor. Washington, D.C., Georgetown University Press, 1965, 142 pp.
The Tropical Dawn (poems), Baltimore, Maryland, 1966; Buffalo, NY: Black Academy Press, Inc., 1970, 60 p.
Leopold Sédar Senghor et la défense et illustration de la civilisation noire, Paris: Marcel Didier, 1968, 232 pp.
Black Leaders of the Centuries, editor, with Ram Desai. Buffalo: Black Academy Press, 1970, 302 pp.
Behind the Rising Sun (novel about the Biafran war). London, William Heinemann, 1971, 242p; paperback (African Writers Series, No. 113) London, Heinemann Educational Books, 1972.
Modern Black Literature, editor. Buffalo: Black Academy Press, 1971
The Literary Works of Senghor, London Heinemann Educational Books, 1972, 121 pp.
Igbo Market Literature, compiler. 5 vols, Buffalo: Black Academy Press, 1972, 4000 pp.
The Meaning of Africa to Afro-Americans: A Comparative Study Of Race & Racism, editor. Buffalo: Black Academy Press, 1972, 175 pp.
Umu Ejima (The Twins). An Igbo adaptation of the Latin play Menaechmi by Plautus. Owerri: Black Academy Press, 1975, 60 pp.
Leopold Sedar Senghor. London: Heinemann, 1973.
Ken Saro-Wiwa: The Life and Times, editor. Baltimore, Black Academy Press, Inc. 1996.
Referencesedit
^"Mezu, Sebastian Okechukwu", ProQuest Biographies, 2006.
^Mezu, Sebastian Okechukwu (April 2013). Nigeria Ojukwu Azikiwe Biafra Beyond the Rising Sun. Black Academy Press. ISBN978-0-87831-071-5.
^S. Okechukwu Mezu, "A Befitting Monument for Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu" 2012-02-03 at the Wayback Machine, Black Academy Press, 12, 01, 2011.
^"African American Book Publishers List | H-Afro-Am | H-Net". networks.h-net.org. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
^Donald F. Joyce, "Black Academy Press, Inc." (pp. 51–55) in Black Book Publishers in the United States: A Historical Dictionary of the Presses, 1817-1990, New York: Greenwood Press, 1991, p. 54.
External linksedit
Black Academy Press, Inc.
CPC (Congress for Progressive Change) at Facebook.
April 10, 2024
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations June 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Dr Sebastian Okechukwu Mezu born April 30 1941 is a Nigerian writer scholar philanthropist and publisher He was involved in politics in Nigeria in the late 1970s 1 Sebastian Okechukwu MezuChairman Imo State Nigerian Peoples PartyIn office June 1978 1979Chairman Imo NewspapersIn office 1980 1981Personal detailsBornApril 30 1941Emekuku Owerri Imo State NigeriaPolitical partyCongress for Progressive ChangeSpouseDr Rose MezuEducationB A in French LL B M A amp Ph D in Romance Languages Contents 1 Background 2 Diplomatic service 3 Black Academy Press 4 Political career 5 Selected bibliography 6 References 7 External linksBackground editSebastian Okechukwu Mezu was born on April 30 1941 in Ezeogba Emekuku Owerri Imo State He received a B A in French 1964 with minors in German and Philosophy from Georgetown University He obtained an LL B in 1966 from La Salle Extension University Chicago and an M A 1966 Ph D 1967 in Romance Languages from Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland 2 Diplomatic service editWhen the Biafran war broke out in 1967 due to the recognition of his valuable contributions and activism as a young scholar in the United States where he had voluntarily translated volumes of documents for his country into French and other languages Mezu was appointed Biafran Government Special Representative and Ambassador to Abidjan Ivory Coast at the age of 27 by Colonel C Odumegwu Ojukwu and was charged with affairs in Francophone and Anglophone West Africa 3 Mezu was the co founder and Deputy Director of the Biafra Historical Research Center Paris July 1967 July 1968 then Biafra s semi official diplomatic mission to France and Europe He was Biafran delegate and French expert to various peace delegations including to Ivory Coast President Felix Houphouet Boigny Senegal President Leopold Sedar Senghor Gabon President Albert Bernard Bongo and was Biafran delegate and French expert to various peace conferences in Niamey Niger Republic President Hamani Diori 1968 and in Addis Ababa Ethiopia Emperor Haile Selassie 1968 Black Academy Press editIn 1969 Mezu established Black Academy Press Inc in Buffalo New York 4 one of the first black owned academic publishing companies that set the tone for Africana studies in the 1960s in the US 5 Black Academy Press remains one of the longest standing historic black publishing companies today Political career editIn the 1970s Mezu founded the Imo State branch of the Nigerian Peoples Party NPP and as Secretary of the NPP he installed and helped to elect to office Governor Samuel Onunaka Sam Mbakwe and other notable names Following the success of the NPP at the polls Mezu became Chairman of the Golden Breweries Limited 1979 80 rehabilitating and revitalizing the brewery during a 50 million expansion and as chairman of Imo State Newspapers Ltd where he raised the daily circulation of the Nigerian Statesman from 50 000 to 150 000 He was Campaign Director Party Secretary and principal architect of the NPP which won a landslide victory over 80 in the Imo State Legislative Gubernatorial and Presidential Elections in Nigeria in 1979 Selected bibliography editThe Philosophy of Pan Africanism editor Washington D C Georgetown University Press 1965 142 pp The Tropical Dawn poems Baltimore Maryland 1966 Buffalo NY Black Academy Press Inc 1970 60 p Leopold Sedar Senghor et la defense et illustration de la civilisation noire Paris Marcel Didier 1968 232 pp Black Leaders of the Centuries editor with Ram Desai Buffalo Black Academy Press 1970 302 pp Behind the Rising Sun novel about the Biafran war London William Heinemann 1971 242p paperback African Writers Series No 113 London Heinemann Educational Books 1972 Modern Black Literature editor Buffalo Black Academy Press 1971 The Literary Works of Senghor London Heinemann Educational Books 1972 121 pp Igbo Market Literature compiler 5 vols Buffalo Black Academy Press 1972 4000 pp The Meaning of Africa to Afro Americans A Comparative Study Of Race amp Racism editor Buffalo Black Academy Press 1972 175 pp Umu Ejima The Twins An Igbo adaptation of the Latin play Menaechmi by Plautus Owerri Black Academy Press 1975 60 pp Leopold Sedar Senghor London Heinemann 1973 Ken Saro Wiwa The Life and Times editor Baltimore Black Academy Press Inc 1996 References edit Mezu Sebastian Okechukwu ProQuest Biographies 2006 Mezu Sebastian Okechukwu April 2013 Nigeria Ojukwu Azikiwe Biafra Beyond the Rising Sun Black Academy Press ISBN 978 0 87831 071 5 S Okechukwu Mezu A Befitting Monument for Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Archived 2012 02 03 at the Wayback Machine Black Academy Press 12 01 2011 African American Book Publishers List H Afro Am H Net networks h net org Retrieved 2021 05 17 Donald F Joyce Black Academy Press Inc pp 51 55 in Black Book Publishers in the United States A Historical Dictionary of the Presses 1817 1990 New York Greenwood Press 1991 p 54 External links editBlack Academy Press Inc CPC Congress for Progressive Change at Facebook Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sebastian Okechukwu Mezu amp oldid 1164841567, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
