Nigerian poet and playwright Inua Ellams recently marked his 40th birthday with a lovely Instagram post, captioned: “This is 40! Four decades on this mad blue ball of a planet, spinning into oblivion and trying to make sense of the whys and why nots.”

Ellams expressed gratitude to those who’ve shared his journey, bringing laughter, dreams, and a belief in the impossible. He gave a special shoutout to his twin sister, Mariam (@lifewithmimiasuquo), for starting the journey with him, and to his other siblings and parents for their ongoing support.

Ellams is known for works that blend storytelling, poetry, and cultural critique in interesting ways. The Half-God of Rainfall is a genre-defying verse novel. The Actual, a collection of poems, was featured on Brittle Paper’s 100 Notable African Books of 2020. His plays, such the re-imagining of Chekov’s Three Sisters and An Evening with an Immigrant are all critically acclaimed.

Here’s to 40 more years of creativity and impact! Happy Birthday, Ellams!