How Her Nigerian-American Heritage Shapes Her Stories And Characters
Unoma Nwankwor shares how her Nigerian-American heritage inspires her multicultural romances, explores themes of love and redemption, and highlights Africa’s beauty while balancing cultural realities with hope and faith.
Unoma Nwankwor is a literary gem whose stories transcend borders, blending the richness of African culture with the universal themes of love, faith, and redemption. Her Sweet Contemporary Multicultural/Black romances are a celebration of identity, resilience, and the beauty of human connection. With a writing style that promises humour, heartfelt moments, and the kind of love that heals and transforms, Unoma has carved a unique space in the world of romance fiction. Her accolades, including the Nigerian Writers’ Award for Best Faith Fiction Writer and multiple nominations for prestigious literary honours, are a testament to her talent and dedication. Through her work, she not only entertains but also challenges stereotypes, offering readers a vibrant and authentic portrayal of Africa and its Diaspora.
In this interview, Unoma takes us on a journey through her creative process, her dual identity as a Nigerian-American, and the inspiration behind her unforgettable characters. From exploring the complexities of love and trust in “A Scoop of Love” to weaving tales of second chances in “A Promise Fulfilled”, she shares the heart and soul behind her stories. Join us as we delve into the mind of an author who masterfully balances the realities of life with the hope and joy that define her work.
How has your experience of growing up in both the U.S. and Nigeria shaped the way you portray African culture and identity in your stories?
I get asked this question often. I was born in the U.S. and was in elementary school when my parents decided they had accomplished what they came to America for (school) and relocated the family back to Nigeria. I returned to Nigeria at a young age, knowing just a little about America but nothing about my true home. My formative years were spent in Nigeria, and I was teased quite a bit—for my accent, my hair, and not knowing certain things. I was called an ‘Americana.’ Primary school was harsh. The general sentiment was I wasn’t ‘Nigerian enough.’ But I survived, completing my secondary and university education—an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.
When I moved back to the States in my mid-twenties, I was not ‘American enough’ either—again, because of my accent and enunciation. So, I stopped trying to fit into just one identity. I embraced both. I am both American and Nigerian, and that’s the perspective from which I tell my stories.
My lived experience allows me to write about people like me, who are part of two rich cultures. I write from the perspective of someone born in America, raised in Nigeria, and now living in the U.S. My characters love plantain and a good bowl of mac and cheese. They speak their language—AAVE (African American Vernacular English) and pidgin—in the same breath. They wear traditional clothes one day and American clothes the next.
What inspired you to focus on showcasing the “good” of Africa in your stories, and how do you balance that with the realities of life that you’ve experienced in both Africa and the U.S.?
When I moved back to the U.S. in my mid-twenties, the Africa (Nigeria) I grew up in wasn’t the Africa I saw on television. It was strange to me. I grew up in a nice middle-class neighborhood on a university campus. My friends and I had well-educated parents who provided everything we could ask for (within reason). We had nice cars, food, cities, and skyscrapers—the ‘good life.’ But what I saw portrayed here was a constant image of a continent that is underdeveloped and downtrodden.
When I was in Nigeria, the America I saw on TV didn’t match the one I encountered when I moved here. There were poor people, homeless people, and others struggling—things I never saw on my television in Nigeria.
While there is hardship everywhere—in Europe, the Americas, Asia, etc.—writers from those regions aren’t encouraged to focus solely on the pain and suffering of their people, or what some call ‘realities.’ So, while there is space for that in some writers’ work, it’s not for me.
I write fiction, but not fantasy. The rich, educated, and stylish people I write about do exist, and that’s what my work focuses on.
In A Scoop of Love, Rasheed struggles with trust and love due to his past. What inspired you to create such a complex character, and how do you hope readers will connect with his journey of overcoming personal demons?
One day, I was watching Oprah, and she had a segment on Motherless Daughters. That inspired me to explore the topic of Fatherless Sons.
A Scoop of Love is the first book in the Sons of Ishmael series, born out of the harsh realities of tribalism, classism, and the neglect of the girl child. Rasheed is the first-born child of Zayd and Obiageli Danjuma. Growing up, he witnessed how love made his mother a ‘fool’ for his father. He also saw how his father shattered their trust by maintaining a secret family in Nigeria, while Rasheed, his brothers, and their mother lived in England.
His childhood trauma shaped the lens through which he viewed the world. Yet, holding on to pain and anger kept him (and us) from fully living the life we are meant to live. In all my stories, my characters have full knowledge of God, but their view of Him becomes skewed due to their experiences. Through their journeys, they break free from the chains that hold them back.
Ibiso, in A Scoop of Love, faces challenges in both her personal life and her business. How did you develop her character arc, and what message do you hope to convey through her resilience and pursuit of her dreams despite past failures?
Ibiso is the Christian who believes she’s now perfect because she has overcome the challenges in her life. But none of us are perfect. Every day, we are given new mercies. I decided for Rasheed to be the mirror through which Ibiso realizes that, despite her changed ways, she still falls short. I also wanted to highlight the beauty of rising from the ashes of your past. Ibiso made many mistakes that could have held her back, but her ability to pull herself up is something I wanted to emphasize.
In A Promise Fulfilled, Yasmine struggles with painful memories of Christmas, while Kojo seeks redemption and a second chance. What inspired you to set their emotional journey in a small, festive town like Tweede Kans Cove, and how does the setting play into their story of healing?
A Promise Fulfilled was the first Christmas story I had written in about seven years, and the first one set in South Africa. It’s also the first book in a four-part series about second chances.
I knew I wanted to write a small-town romance—I’m not exactly sure why. Maybe blame it on Hallmark! But Tweede Kans Cove has quickly become a fan favorite in the U.N. Universe. The town’s slogan is ‘Where Second Chances Are Born.’ Kojo, a big-time music producer, left his first love to explore the world. What better place to set a ‘coming home’ second-chance romance than a small town that believes in second chances?
A Promise Fulfilled focuses on themes of second chances and personal redemption. What message do you hope readers will take away from Yasmine and Kojo’s journey, especially in the context of Christmas and the spirit of hope?
Christmas is a season of hope, enchantment, and expectation, but Yasmine was so stuck in the past that she couldn’t bring herself to enjoy it. Kojo, having done the self-work to heal, wasn’t just offering Yasmine his undying love this Christmas; he was also helping her see that life is for living and that the gift of restoration is always possible.
