From the sunlit streets of Ondo City to the bustling halls of University College Ibadan, Mabel Dorothy Okanima Segun was destined to tell stories. Born in 1930, she grew up at a time when the voices of African children were rarely heard in books. Yet she would become the storyteller who gave those children their voices, their laughter, their dreams, and herself, a place in history as a literary pioneer.
A Childhood That Sparked Imagination
Mabel’s early years were shaped by a mix of curiosity, adventure, and a love for words. At CMS Girls’ School in Lagos, she discovered the joy of storytelling, scribbling tales that captured the world around her. She did not just read books, she lived in them, letting their stories mingle with her own experiences.
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Her brilliance carried her to University College Ibadan, where she studied English, Latin, and History. Surrounded by brilliant minds, including future literary legends, she found a stage for her talent and a community that nurtured her dreams. Even as a student, her poems and short stories were turning heads.
The Birth of a Literary Voice
In 1954, her short story The Surrender won a national prize, marking the first of many accolades that would follow. But it was 1965’s My Father’s Daughter that made the world stop and take notice. Told through the eyes of a young girl growing up in colonial Nigeria, the story is tender, funny, and fiercely honest. It was not just a book, it was a window into Nigerian childhood, a mirror for children to see themselves, and a message that African stories mattered.
Over the decades, Mabel wrote and edited poems, plays, short stories, and children’s books, including Under the Mango Tree, Olu and the Broken Statue, The Twins and the Tree Spirits, and Readers’ Theatre: Twelve Plays for Young People. Each work radiated warmth, humor, and cultural truth, drawing readers into worlds that were at once familiar and magical.
Fighting for Children’s Voices
Mabel Segun understood that African children needed stories they could call their own. In 1978, she founded the Children’s Literature Association of Nigeria, and in 1990, she created the Children’s Documentation and Research Centre in Ibadan. Through these institutions, she nurtured writers, encouraged publishers, and ensured African children had books that reflected their lives, their dreams, and their cultures.
She was not just a writer, she was a champion of imagination, a mentor, a guide, and a believer that literature could shape hearts and minds.
A Voice on the Airwaves
Beyond the page, Mabel’s voice resonated across Nigeria. As a broadcaster with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, she brought literature, education, and culture into homes. Her programs inspired curiosity, creativity, and joy. In 1977, she was honored as the Artiste of the Year, a testament to the power of her voice and vision.
Accolades That Told a Story
Recognition followed naturally for a life so fully lived. She received the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2007 and the Nigerian National Order of Merit in 2009. She was a founding member of the Association of Nigerian Authors, helping to build the literary landscape for generations of writers.
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Even her athletic prowess added layers to her story. Mabel was a talented table tennis player, representing Nigeria and proving that her excellence extended beyond words into action and discipline.
A Legacy That Lives On
Mabel Segun passed away in March 2025, leaving behind a legacy that cannot be measured only in books or awards. She left a world where African children could see themselves reflected in literature, a community of writers empowered to tell their own stories, and countless readers inspired to dream bigger.
Her life was a story worth reading, a story of courage, creativity, and relentless passion. She reminded us that one person with a pen, a voice, and a vision can change the narrative for generations.
Author’s Note
Mabel Segun’s life teaches us that stories are more than words, they are wings. She gave children African stories, gave writers confidence, and gave the world a model of creativity and courage. Every book she wrote, every institution she founded, every voice she lifted was part of her mission to ensure that African imagination flourished. Her legacy transcends books and awards, influencing writers, educators, and young readers across Nigeria and beyond. Her story is a celebration of resilience, culture, and the transformative power of literature.
Which of Mabel Segun’s stories inspired you the most and why? Share your favorite moment from her books in the comments.
References
Mabel Segun Biography and Early Life University of Ibadan Education
Major Works by Mabel Segun including My Father’s Daughter, Under the Mango Tree, The Twins and the Tree Spirits, Readers’ Theatre
Children’s Literature Association of Nigeria (CLAN)
Children’s Documentation and Research Centre, Ibadan
Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, Artiste of the Year 1977
Nigeria Prize for Literature 2007, Nigerian National Order of Merit 2009
Association of Nigerian Authors, Founding Members
Sporting Achievements in Table Tennis
Passing in March 2025
