MFA Student Richmond Wills Participates in International Writing Residency in Nigeria

Image

This month, Richmond Wills, a second-year fiction writer in the MFA for Poets and Writers Program in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, is taking part in the three-week Obodo International Artist Residency held in Obodo Oma, Nigeria. The residency invites applications from Black diaspora artists to collaborate with Nigerian artists, focusing on the intersection of arts and human rights and how the latter can be leveraged in dealing with societal norms and prejudices while advocating for LGBTQ+ people in Nigeria and beyond.

During the residency, Wills will offer workshops to Nigerian artists and youth as well as conduct critical research for his MFA thesis, the novel-in-progress, “Akata Boy.” Wills plans to engage in place-based research in Lagos, focusing on understanding how the local environment, histories and traditions shape contemporary queer experiences.

“This residency will focus on expanding and deepening the novel's exploration of the intersection of identity, migration, and queerness through…research and immersive cultural engagement,” says Wills, who also teaches the Living Writers course in the English department and is an instructor in the Writing Program. “‘Akata Boy’ centers on the Nigerian diaspora experience and returning to Nigeria to work directly within the cultural and historical landscapes that inform my protagonist’s journey will provide the authenticity and nuance that can only come from lived experience in the region.”

Wills adds, “I aim to examine cultural touchpoints, including language, spatial relationships, and the influence of mythologies on identity, particularly concerning marginalized groups. Engaging with the physical and cultural spaces where Nigerian queerness is navigated will allow me to authentically depict the speculative elements of my novel and ground them in the reality of present-day Nigeria.”

“The MFA faculty are thrilled that Richmond has this opportunity to deepen his writing and connect with Nigerians in this context,” Jeff Parker, MFA program director, says. “It certainly will impact his novel-in-progress, and we’re excited to see what else is sparked by this undertaking.”