H. J. Golakai is a Liberian writer and clinical scientist who gained recognition for her gripping crime novels, notably The Lazarus Effect (2011) and its sequel, The Score (2015).
Hawa Jande Golakai was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Her childhood was marked by the First Liberian Civil War, forcing her to flee and seek refuge in Cape Town, South Africa. She earned a Bachelor of Science in cell and molecular biology from the University of Cape Town in 2005, followed by a Master of Science dissertation from Stellenbosch University in 2008.
The immunology research that Golakai participated in at Stellenbosch University focused on diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV. Her dual commitment to science and literature sets the stage for a multifaceted career that seamlessly weaves together the worlds of clinical research and storytelling.
Golakai began her literary career with the 2011 crime novel The Lazarus Effect. In addition to being shortlisted for the 2011 Sunday Times Fiction Prize and the University of Johannesburg Debut Prize, the book is also on the longlist for the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa.
Cassava Republic Press later released the novel in the UK in 2016, solidifying Golakai's presence on the international literary stage.
She was named one of Africa39's promising writers under 40 in 2014 and was selected as one of Sub-Saharan Africa's promising writers under 40, featured in the Africa39 project. " South of the Sahara: New Writing from Africa South of the Sahara," edited by Ellah Allfrey, features her work.
In 2015, Golakai released The Score, her follow-up to The Lazarus Effect. The sequel propelled her into the spotlight once again, with its unique narrative rhythm mirroring the chaotic life of the main character, Vee. The novel earned critical acclaim, reinforcing Golakai's position as a skilled storyteller within the crime fiction genre.
Notably, her 2016 essay Fugee, commissioned for the anthology "Safe House: Explorations in Creative Nonfiction," added another dimension to her literary repertoire.
Golakai's commitment to the literary community extended beyond her role as an author. She participated as a mentor in the 2015 Writivism program, served as a judge for the Etisalat Flash Fiction Prize in 2015, and continued to contribute to the literary landscape as a judge for the 2016 Short Story Day Africa prize.
H. J. Golakai lives in Monrovia.
Photo credit: FB @HJGolakai
Hawa Jande Golakai was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Her childhood was marked by the First Liberian Civil War, forcing her to flee and seek refuge in Cape Town, South Africa. She earned a Bachelor of Science in cell and molecular biology from the University of Cape Town in 2005, followed by a Master of Science dissertation from Stellenbosch University in 2008.
The immunology research that Golakai participated in at Stellenbosch University focused on diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV. Her dual commitment to science and literature sets the stage for a multifaceted career that seamlessly weaves together the worlds of clinical research and storytelling.
Golakai began her literary career with the 2011 crime novel The Lazarus Effect. In addition to being shortlisted for the 2011 Sunday Times Fiction Prize and the University of Johannesburg Debut Prize, the book is also on the longlist for the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa.
Cassava Republic Press later released the novel in the UK in 2016, solidifying Golakai's presence on the international literary stage.
She was named one of Africa39's promising writers under 40 in 2014 and was selected as one of Sub-Saharan Africa's promising writers under 40, featured in the Africa39 project. " South of the Sahara: New Writing from Africa South of the Sahara," edited by Ellah Allfrey, features her work.
In 2015, Golakai released The Score, her follow-up to The Lazarus Effect. The sequel propelled her into the spotlight once again, with its unique narrative rhythm mirroring the chaotic life of the main character, Vee. The novel earned critical acclaim, reinforcing Golakai's position as a skilled storyteller within the crime fiction genre.
Notably, her 2016 essay Fugee, commissioned for the anthology "Safe House: Explorations in Creative Nonfiction," added another dimension to her literary repertoire.
Golakai's commitment to the literary community extended beyond her role as an author. She participated as a mentor in the 2015 Writivism program, served as a judge for the Etisalat Flash Fiction Prize in 2015, and continued to contribute to the literary landscape as a judge for the 2016 Short Story Day Africa prize.
H. J. Golakai lives in Monrovia.
Photo credit: FB @HJGolakai
years of life: 1 June 1979 – present
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