From Atlanta. Alabama roots. Nigerian ancestry. I dwell in the liminal.
Hello there.
My name is Nneka M. Okona. I’m a queer Nigerian American journalist and author from Atlanta. I grew up in the South though there are many places in the world I call home—London, Madrid, Medellín, Lagos, Huntsville.
Movement feeds my soul and centers the writing I do, travel being the chief form of movement I embrace. I am always everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
I’ve been a journalist since I was 19—my career started in print newspapers. My first journalism job was at a newspaper. It was my dream, until my dream no longer felt big enough. I left that job. I left the U.S. I moved to Spain in search of adventure, a new pace, myself. In turn I discovered that I would only tap into my full potential as a writer and artist if I worked for myself. It’s been an interesting journey the past almost 20 years. I’ve written two books. I’ve seen the world and written about it for many publications: Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, The Washington Post and many more. And most importantly, I am deeply rooted in what it means to be a writer. My art is truly my soft place to land.
Welcome to my space online. Here you’ll find snippets of me and who I am as a writer, journalist and author. I’m glad that you’re here.