Ònye bụ onye Igbo mbụ dere akwụkwọ ede?

The question asks who was the first Igbo person to write a book (akwukwo ede). The answer is Pita Nwana, who is widely recognized as the author of Omenuko, published in 1933. Omenuko is historically acknowledged as the first novel written in the Igbo language and is a milestone in Igbo literary history.

The novel tells the story of a trader named Omenuko who, after losing his goods and suffering financial ruin, resorts to selling the young men entrusted to his care. The story explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the consequences of desperate choices. It was originally written for a literary competition organized by the International Institute of African Languages and Cultures.

The other options are notable Nigerians but do not hold this particular distinction: Chinua Achebe wrote Things Fall Apart (1958) in English, not Igbo. Elechi Amadi is known for English-language novels such as The Concubine. Nnamdi Azikiwe was a nationalist leader and politician, not a novelist in Igbo.