Nigerian writer Onyeka Nwelue has been formally recognized by the Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, for his latest novel, How to Speak Punjabi in Brampton.
Mayor Brown presented Nwelue with an official certificate of recognition during a special book launch event at the ‘A Different Booklist’ Bookshop on Bathurst Street in Toronto.
The novel, which explores a Punjabi family’s journey through language, culture, and identity, has sparked significant interest for its fresh take on Brampton’s diverse multicultural environment.
Recognizing the novel’s authentic depiction of the Punjabi community, Mayor Brown honored Nwelue for his “contribution to the city’s literary scene.”
With Brampton home to one of Canada’s largest Punjabi populations, How to Speak Punjabi in Brampton dives deep into the city’s cultural dynamics.
The story follows Balminder Jagvir Singh, a hospitality lecturer at Hanson College in Brampton, whose life is upended when his non-English-speaking Sikh parents arrive from India with a bride they’ve arranged for him to marry. Their arrival sets off a series of chaotic and humorous events.
Nwelue, a prolific author of over 22 books, revealed that the novel’s cinematic qualities have already led to discussions about adapting it into a film. “Fans can expect the same intrigue, cultural richness, and unexpected twists that have made the book a hit,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nwelue is also attending the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2024, where his film The Other Side of History is being screened in the market section.
The film, a biopic on Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, delves into Ojukwu’s life leading up to the Nigerian Civil War and prompts viewers to reconsider their perspectives on other prominent Nigerian figures such as Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, and Christopher Okigbo.
Nwelue arrived in Canada from Mexico, where he currently runs the African Centre in Puebla.
