In conjunction with “Wandering Spirit: African Wax Prints,” the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery and the Department of Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design will host a reading and book signing by Department of English faculty member Chigozie Obioma, assistant professor of literature and creative writing. The event is free and open to the public as well as the university community.

Obioma was born in Nigeria, one of twelve children raised in Akure, in the southwestern part of the country. He completed a master of fine arts degree in creative writing at the University of Michigan. His first novel, “The Fishermen,” was shortlisted for the 2015 Man Booker Prize and widely praised for its “…sharp observation, rich images of the natural world…and majestic reimagining of timeless folklore” (Publishers Weekly, April 13, 2015). Mr. Obioma will read from “The Fishermen” and reflect on Nigerian culture and society. A book signing and reception will follow the reading in the Hillestad Gallery on the second floor of the Home Economics Building. Copies of “The Fishermen” will be available for purchase both before and following the reading.

This exhibition, organized by ExhibitsUSA/Mid-America Arts Alliance of Kansas City, MO., traces the developmental pathway of the African wax print and tells how these fabrics reflect the stories, cultures, and personalities of the people who wear them.

Image: Chigozie Obioma.