Teju Cole, originally named Obayemi Babajide Adetokunbo Onafuwa, is a multifaceted Nigerian-American writer, photographer, and art historian known for his significant contributions to literature and the arts. Born in New York City on June 27, 1975, Cole has a rich cultural heritage rooted in Nigeria.

Born to Nigerian parents who shaped his early life in Lagos, Teju Cole's mother was a French teacher, and his father was a business executive involved in chocolate exportation. Cole's literary journey began at an early age; by six, he had read an abridged version of Tom Sawyer, and by fifteen, he was already publishing cartoons in Prime People, Nigeria's equivalent of Vanity Fair. His move to the United States at seventeen marked a new chapter in his educational pursuits, which included a focus on art history and a brief, albeit unhappy, stint in medical school.

Cole's body of work includes a novella titled Every Day Is for the Thief (2007), a profoundly resonant novel Open City (2011), an insightful essay collection Known and Strange Things (2016), a thought-provoking photobook Punto d'Ombra (2016), published in English as Blind Spot (2017), and his second novel Tremor (2023). His works have garnered critical acclaim, with many recognizing the unique path he has carved in African literature. Teju Cole currently resides in Brooklyn, where he continues to engage with his passions for writing and art history.