Chika Onyeani was a Nigerian journalist, diplomat and publisher known for his influential writings on African identity and economics. He gained widespread recognition for his book Capitalist Nigger: The Road to Success (2000), which sparked a debate on the state of the African race and the need for self-reliance.
He was also the editor and publisher of the African Sun Times, a leading African newspaper in the United States. Onyeani received numerous awards for his journalistic excellence, including one from the New York Times Institute for Journalists.
Chika Onyeani was born on 14 November 1943 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, the second of thirteen children. At age six, he moved to Okagwe to live with his grandmother, Princess Ada Ubolo. His early education was marked by hardship, as he lacked books, uniforms and shoes for the first four years of school. Despite these challenges, Onyeani's determination and intelligence allowed him to excel academically, finishing at the top of his class throughout high school.
After completing his education, Onyeani worked for a big company in Nigeria, using his earnings to support his family and pay for his studies at a business school. His work ethic caught the attention of two uncles, one of whom helped him secure a position in the Nigerian Foreign Service. This opportunity took him to Dublin, Ireland, where he began his diplomatic career.
However, when the Nigerian-Biafran civil war broke out in 1967, Onyeani resigned his post and joined the Biafran government, becoming a diplomat in the United States.
After the war, Onyeani remained in the US and embarked on a successful business career. He worked for the New York Life Insurance Company and later for DuPont/Endo Pharmaceuticals, where he became one of the company's top sales representatives. His diplomatic skills, honed during his military service, helped him establish the African Sun Times, which became the leading African newspaper in the US.
Onyeani's contributions to journalism and advocacy of African self-determination earned him numerous honours, including over 75 international awards. His work extended beyond journalism; he was involved with the African Union and became the first chairman of its Diaspora Task Team.
In his personal life, Onyeani married Loretta Hand of Hackensack, New Jersey, with whom he had two sons, Chika Abba Onyeani II and Abba Abba Onyeani. Dr Chika Onyeani died on 6 December 2016.
Photo credit: FB @africansuntimes
