Burma Boy

Biyi Bandele was born in 1967 in Nigeria. He left his parents’ house at age 14 to earn his living doing odd jobs, while also going to school and writing his first novel. From 1987–90 he studied Drama at the University of Ile-Ife, where his play Rain won him a scholarship to stay in London. His first novel, The Man Who Came In From The Back of Beyond, was published in 1991. He published his second novel, The Sympathetic Undertaker and Other Dreams, the same year. His plays have been staged at the Royal Court Theatre and have been performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Biyi Bandele is the author of The Street.