Mabel Segun (1930 – 2025): Celebrated Literary Icon, Broadcaster, and Sportswoman Passes at 95

Mabel Dorothy Okanima Segun, one of Nigeria’s most accomplished literary figures and a trailblazer in broadcasting and sports, has passed away at the age of 95. Her family announced that she died peacefully in the early hours of March 6, 2025.

Born in 1930, Mabel Segun’s extraordinary life spanned decades of pioneering contributions to Nigerian literature, children’s writing, broadcasting, and sports. A woman of remarkable versatility, Segun’s works include poetry, plays, essays, and children’s literature. Her groundbreaking debut, My Father’s Daughter, published in 1965, remains a classic in Nigerian literature.

Beyond her literary achievements, Segun also made her mark in broadcasting, serving as one of the early female voices on Nigerian radio. In sports, she was an accomplished table tennis player, representing Nigeria at international tournaments — a testament to her multifaceted talent and dedication to excellence.

Mabel Segun’s contributions earned her numerous accolades, including the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) in the Humanities, Nigeria’s highest honour for intellectual achievement, and the UNESCO Prize for Literature in the Service of Tolerance.

She was predeceased by her son, Femi Segun, a well-known broadcaster and diplomat. She is survived by her children — Gbenga Segun and Omowunmi Segun, her grandchildren, including Rolari Segun, Damilola Segun, Ayomide Segun, and Fikemi Femi-Segun, as well as her great-grandchildren.

The family has said funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

Mabel Segun’s passing marks the end of an era — but her legacy as a literary matriarch, cultural ambassador, and role model for generations of Nigerian writers and creatives will endure.

Profile: Mabel Segun — A Literary Matriarch Across Generations

Mabel Dorothy Okanima Segun (1930-2025) was a pioneering Nigerian writer, poet, broadcaster, and sportswoman whose career spanned over six decades. She belonged to the distinguished first generation of modern Nigerian writers — a group that emerged in the years leading up to and following Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

Her literary journey began in earnest with her critically acclaimed autobiographical book, My Father’s Daughter, published in 1965. This landmark work firmly established her voice in Nigerian letters, capturing the complex cultural tensions of colonial and post-colonial Nigeria through the eyes of a young girl.

A Voice Among Giants

Mabel Segun wrote alongside some of the most iconic names in African literature — a cohort that included Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Christopher Okigbo, J.P. Clark, and Flora Nwapa. While these male contemporaries dominated the African literary canon, Segun stood out as one of the pioneering female authors whose work highlighted the lived experience of Nigerian women.

She also shared intellectual and creative space with other pioneering women writers such as Buchi Emecheta, Zaynab Alkali, and Nnenna Mgbaru, though Mabel Segun’s career predated many of them. In this sense, she belonged to an even smaller, elite group of female trailblazers in Nigerian literature — alongside Flora Nwapa, the first African woman to publish a novel in English.

Beyond the Page: Broadcasting and Sports

Mabel Segun’s creative life extended far beyond the written word. She became a prominent voice in Nigerian broadcasting, hosting literary programs and contributing to the country’s vibrant intellectual discourse through radio and television. Her ability to shift between creative writing, cultural commentary, and public service made her a multifaceted cultural ambassador for Nigeria.

In addition to her literary and media work, Mabel Segun also made history in sports. She was a champion table tennis player, representing Nigeria in international competitions at a time when women’s participation in sports was rare. This combination of intellectual and athletic excellence was a hallmark of her exceptional life.

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