Penn State Professor Samuel Kọ́láwọlé published his critically acclaimed debut novel, The Road to the Salt Sea, in July of 2024. It is a searing exploration of the global migration crisis that moves from Nigeria to Libya to Italy.

The Kirkus Review says the novel “opens like a thriller” and continues as a “bracing, well-paced story of migrant desperation.” Okey Ndibe calls it “groundbreaking” and that it “brings a stalwart heart to the prospect of a fresh beginning.”

Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania hosted the book launch, where Kọ́láwọlé had an engaging conversation with Messiah University Professor, Devin Manzullo-Thomas, preceding an audience Q&A. Kọ́láwọlé discussed his inspiration and process for writing the book, including how he chose character names like Able God and Ben Ten. He spoke about wanting to portray real, vivid, complex characters who have various reasons for making the dangerous Trans-Saharan migrant route from their homes.

Kọ́láwọlé recently wrote in The Guardian about Africa’s migration crisis and the need to publish more books about it. He stresses that, “Literature has the power to change the way we perceive ourselves and the world around us. This is my way of imploring you not to look away – to see migrants in all of their humanity. It’s me shouting from the rooftops that African lives matter.”

Professor Samuel Kọ́láwọlé will have a book celebration event at Webster’s Bookstore in State College, Pennsylvania on September 27 at 6:00pm. He will also have a reading and book signing at Penn State on January 30 as part of the Mary E. Rolling Reading Series. To find out more about Samuel Kọ́láwọlé, The Road to the Salt Sea, and his book tour, visit his website.

Congratulations, Professor Kọ́láwọlé!