Sir Ben Golden Emuobowho Okri is a Nigerian-born British poet and novelist, celebrated as a leading voice in African postmodern and post-colonial literature. Born on March 15, 1959, in Minna, Nigeria, Okri is often compared to literary greats such as Salman Rushdie and Gabriel García Márquez. His acclaimed novel, The Famished Road, won the Booker Prize in 1991.

Okri was raised in London before returning to Nigeria in 1968. His early works reflect the political turmoil he observed during the Nigerian civil war. Okri pursued Comparative Literature at Essex University in England, supported by a grant from the Nigerian government. He served as the poetry editor for West Africa magazine from 1983 to 1986 and contributed to the BBC World Service between 1983 and 1985.

In 1991, he was appointed Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he served until 1993. Okri was knighted in the 2023 Birthday Honours for his contributions to literature.