About Dr. Ugorji
The show is hosted by the Princeton , New Jersey-based author and publisher, Dr. Ugorji O. Ugorji. The idea of this television series was a consequence of the launching of Tall Drums: Portraits of Nigerians Who Are Changing America on July 29, 2004, at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel. The coffee-table book, which was publicly presented at the Abuja event, was written by Ugorji – it is one of five books he has authored.
Praised by Professors Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, and Ngugi wa-Thiongo for his contributions to the documentation of Africa’s intellectual heritage and literary traditions, Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji hails from Nigeria and resides both in Nigeria and the United States of America . In 1993 he founded the Sungai Corporation, a publishing and consulting firm based in Princeton, New Jersey (USA) and Abuja, Nigeria.
Dr. Ugorji holds four degrees, including a doctorate degree in Education Administration from Rutgers University in New Jersey . A Former Ralph Bunche Fellow in Human Rights of Amnesty International-USA, he has authored five books: I saw the sky fall; Tall Drums: Portraits of Nigerians who are changing America; The Crow Bride; From the Belly of the Gods; and The Adventures of Torti.
With a commitment to helping African writers tell the stories of African people, Dr. Ugorji founded the nonprofit African Writers Endowment, Inc. in 2000 and serves as its Executive Director. He also works as a public administrator with the State government of New Jersey.
Tall Drums television program is produced under a new company known as Tall Drums, Inc. (TDI), with offices in New Jersey, USA, and in Owerri and Abuja , Nigeria. TDI is a Broadcasting and Moving Images Production firm.
On Friday, January 17, 2014 Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji was sworn in as a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustments in Willingboro Township, New Jersey. With a population of about 35,000, Willingboro is a township located in Burlington County, in a region of the state that is referred to as South Jersey. The Zoning Board grants variances to use of structures and hears and decides appeals in any allegation by an appellant that there is an error in any order, requirement, decision or refusal of the Zoning ordinance. A resident of Willingboro Township, Ugorji is the Executive Director of African Writers Endowment, Inc. and the publisher of Sungai Books. The appointment was made by the Mayor and Township Council for a term of four (4) years.