Before Mabel Segun stepped into the scene, African storytelling was largely a continuation of the colonialist’s life, worldview and thoughts, especially when it came to African children’s literary experience. Her appearance in the world of African literature contributed to the deconstruction of colonial influence on African children’s literature.

The words of Abiola Irele, literary and academic scholar, succinctly describe Segun’s influence in the African literary space:

Segun (has) dedicated herself to the deconstruction of colonial children’s literature for African youth, fostering the emergence of African children’s literature that authentically reflects the culture and development of the African child. She has actively participated in numerous organisations and committees that promote quality writing for African children by African authors.

Mabel Segun was born on February 13, 1930, in Ondo. She had her secondary education at the popular CMS Girls’ School in Lagos before proceeding to the University of Ibadan to obtain a degree in English, Latin and History.

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While Segun was a student in Ibadan, she showed her prowess both as a writer and a sportswoman. In her final year, for instance, she wrote the short story which won the maiden edition of the Nigerian Festival of the Arts Literature Prize.

Blazed the Trail for African Literature for African School Children

Before Segun, most of what existed was orally passed-down folklore that was not written down or incorporated into formal education. Books like Alice in Wonderland, Oliver Twist and Treasure Island were the books available to children.

With books such as My Father’s Daughter written in 1965, which was one of the Nigerian books made specially for children, Segun shaped African children’s literature by writing books that African children could relate to, away from European books.

She worked with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to shape Nigeria’s school curriculum. Segun’s advocacy for African literature in schools led to the inclusion of Nigerian-authored books in Nigerian schools. She also contributed to textbooks for primary and secondary schools in Nigeria.

Segun also advocated for and promoted literature in indigenous languages to allow children to read in Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and other African languages. Her book, Rhapsody – A Celebration of Nigerian Cooking & Food Culture, spotlighted Nigerian cuisine and food culture.

Consequently, the availability of indigenous African books improved the reading culture among young Nigerians.

Gave Young Nigerian Girls A Voice in African Literature & Sports

Before Segun, most books available, apart from not being Afrocentric, also featured male protagonists and focused on male-dominated narratives. Girls were not often represented in books. My Father’s Daughter (1965) introduced a strong, female protagonist, influencing how young African girls saw themselves in literature.

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The nonagenarian paved the way for remarkable female authors like Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Sefi Atta.

“My first husband burnt my first yet-to-be-published novel because he did not want me to become famous. Luckily for me, it was a white judge while we were in England who presided over the case. He dissolved the marriage,” Segun said in an interview in 1998.

A table tennis champion in her youth, Segun wrote about women in sports, also setting the precedence in sports journalism.

At the time, when female athletes were largely ignored in sports, she wrote about women in sports, making her among the first Nigerian women to be recognised as a sports writer. This also helped encourage women’s participation in sports.

Mabel Segun passed away on Thursday, a couple of weeks after her 95th birthday.