A ‘Lucky Child’ Writes His Way From Nigeria to the Global Stage

Ani Kayode Somtochukwu wrote his debut novel entirely by hand on notepads, without the internet or a computer. He transcribed it onto his cellphone and eventually sold it to a major publisher. That novel, named “And Then He Sang a Lullaby,” is a love story about two young men in Nigeria and will be published on June 6. It is the first book from a queer Nigerian man named Ani, who submitted it to a new imprint at Grove Atlantic, created by writer and social commentator, Roxane Gay. Gay launched the imprint to provide opportunities to authors outside of traditional publishing. Ani is 23 years old and is from a working-class family. Today, he resides in Lagos, Nigeria, and works as a full-time writer.

Ani was born and raised in Enugu, Nigeria, as the second child of five. He has always been passionate about writing, but it was not considered a viable career option in his working-class family. He went on to study applied biology and biotechnology in college and eventually landed a job at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in Lagos. Writing remained a hobby until it helped him overcome poverty and became his primary source of income.

“And Then He Sang a Lullaby” focuses on two male college students who fall in love in Nigeria—August and Segun. August is wealthy and athletic and passes for straight, while Segun is political, working-class, flamboyant, and frequently targeted because same-sex relationships are illegal in Nigeria. The novel delves into how people handle homophobic environments and resistance to oppression, particularly in the face of love.

Besides writing, Ani is an activist for LGBTQ+ rights in Nigeria where assaults, detention by police, and death threats are common. He has organized campaigns for LGBTQ+ rights and raised funds to buy freedom for friends and strangers who were kidnapped and ransomed because of their gender. According to his sister, Ani Uzoamaka Chinedu, he has been physically assaulted twice, detained by the police, and threatened multiple times, but he remained resilient.

Traditionally, publishing houses require manuscripts to be submitted through an agent. Thus, it is often difficult for aspiring authors to have their work considered. When Gay launched her imprint, she announced that she would accept un-agented submissions, resulting in 200 to 300 manuscripts being submitted each month. “And Then He Sang a Lullaby” landed in Grove Atlantic’s slush pile, and Gay was personally impressed by the strength of Ani’s voice, leading to his deal. Ani plans to use his newfound visibility and protection to make a difference in Nigeria.