Aduke Gomez
Writer and Irish-Nigerian Scholar
A life in Lagos
Lagos-based writer of Irish, Nigerian and Brazilian heritage, Aduke Gomez’s career has spanned many areas, from legal to the public sector, and banking to creative. Her writing explores the connections between Ireland and Nigeria, with a storytelling focus across film, poetry and children’s books.
She is an extremely active member of the Irish diaspora community in Nigeria and was a 2024 Presidential Distinguished Services Award recipient in the Arts, Culture and Sport category.
Tell us about your work
“My work involves storytelling whether in person, or through film collaborations, or through my published poetry collections, or through my published books for children. I showcase Nigerian culture and heritage by organising tours and visits and by moderating and presenting talks on the many various facets. I also collaborate with artists of various genres, and I volunteer on the Advisory Boards of the Lagos Biennial, Open House Lagos and the Lagos Studies Association.”
Tell us about your work
“My work involves storytelling whether in person, or through film collaborations, or through my published poetry collections, or through my published books for children. I showcase Nigerian culture and heritage by organising tours and visits and by moderating and presenting talks on the many various facets. I also collaborate with artists of various genres, and I volunteer on the Advisory Boards of the Lagos Biennial, Open House Lagos and the Lagos Studies Association.”
How has Irish culture shaped your craft?
“I try as much as possible to approach my storytelling and my writing with the aim of having the kind of audience engagement I learnt from the early exposure I had from my Irish family, especially my grandfather, to Irish books, in particular the old folk and fairy tales and Irish traditional music.”
From your work, what would you say are the most important connections between Ireland and Nigeria?
"Ireland and Nigeria share a common colonial past and it's fascinating to study and explore the similarities and the differences in this shared history. It is also noteworthy that Roger Casement began his early career in Nigeria.
Ireland provided many of the missionaries and teachers in Nigeria, and the ensuing effect this has had on the literature of Nigeria can be seen in the work of Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka, as well as in the educational achievements of the many Nigerians who have gone on to study at Irish universities."
From your work, what would you say are the most important connections between Ireland and Nigeria?
"Ireland and Nigeria share a common colonial past and it's fascinating to study and explore the similarities and the differences in this shared history. It is also noteworthy that Roger Casement began his early career in Nigeria.
Ireland provided many of the missionaries and teachers in Nigeria, and the ensuing effect this has had on the literature of Nigeria can be seen in the work of Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka, as well as in the educational achievements of the many Nigerians who have gone on to study at Irish universities."
Are you inspired by other Irish creatives?
"To start at the beginning as a young child, amongst my favourite books given to me and which I read and re-read were the fairy tales of Sinead de Valera and Frances Browne's "Granny's Wonderful Chair".
In adult life, the work and life of innovative women artists and fearless in their approach to defying societal convention such as Lady Gregory, Edna O'Brien and Sinead O'Connor have been inspiring. In particular, the recent award to me of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award was a great honour made even more poignant for me that Ms O'Brien had been a prior recipient."
