Chris Abani, who is originally from Nigeria, is an award-winning poet and novelist. His novels include The Virgin of Flames (Penguin, 2007); Graceland (FSG, 2004/Picador, 2005); and Masters of the Board (Delta, 1985). He also has published two novellas, Becoming Abigail (Akashic, 2006); and Song For Night (Akashic, 2007), and several poetry collections, including Hands Washing Water (Copper Canyon, 2006); Dog Woman (Red Hen, 2004); Daphne's Lot (Red Hen, 2003); and Kalakuta Republic (Saqi, 2001).

Abani is the recipient of the PEN USA Freedom-to-Write Award, the Prince Claus Award, a Lannan Literary Fellowship, a California Book Award, a Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and the PEN Hemingway Book Prize. He has a B.A. in English and Literary Studies from Imo State University, Nigeria, an M.A. in Gender, Society, and Culture from University of London, and a Ph.D. in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Southern California. He teaches in the Department of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside.
http://www.chrisabani.com/

The acclaimed writer Chris Abani will be the 2007 Commencement Speaker for Humanities and Fine Arts ceremony on Sunday, June 17th.

The commencement ceremony for the arts and humanities is traditionally held near the lagoon overlooking the Pacific on a June Sunday at 1:00 pm. The Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts officiates at the event.

Each graduating class typically includes over 900 students, who earn degrees in Art, Classics, Comparative Literature, Dramatic Art, Dance, Asian Studies, Chinese, Japanese, English, Film and Media Studies, French, Italian, German, Russian, Slavic Languages and Literature, Spanish, Portuguese, History, Art History, Latin American and Iberian Studies, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, and Religious Studies, among other areas.