Visiting Akwa Ibom, Living in Uyo – A Travel Memoir

By Nmadiuto James

eBook | 144 pages | Releases June 2025

“Imagine the map of Nigeria as a Boeing 737 aircraft… Uyo is the tail—an unhurried city that keeps things calm and controlled, and provides stability.”

In this heartfelt debut, travel writer and memoirist Nmadiuto James offers an intimate portrait of Uyo—the quiet, palm-lined capital of Nigeria’s Akwa Ibom State. Told through a series of deeply personal essays, Visiting Akwa Ibom, Living in Uyo is both a travel memoir and a literary love letter to a place that gently unfolded into home.

With warmth, sensory detail, and a storyteller’s eye for the everyday, Nmadiuto explores food, childhood memories, language, hair, friendship, and the unexpected bloom of love. From the bustle of open-air markets to the quiet comfort of refreshing fresh coconut water, she shares how life in Uyo shaped her understanding of beauty, identity, and belonging.

More than a guidebook, this is a book about finding yourself in a city you never planned to stay in—and choosing to live richly, slowly, and fully.

Perfect for:

Travelers eager to discover Nigeria beyond Lagos and Abuja
Diaspora readers seeking reconnection with Nigerian culture
Local residents who want to see Uyo through fresh eyes
Memoir lovers drawn to lyrical, culture-rich storytelling

Inside, You’ll Find:

Vivid stories of everyday life in Akwa Ibom
Reflections on food, family, language, and self-discovery
Insights into where to eat, shop, relax, and connect
A gentle introduction to the soul of Uyo
A celebration of slowness, belonging, and becoming
Notes on navigating unique roads, markets, and transactions
Beauty—in hair salons, open-air markets, everyday interactions, and historic discoveries

Whether you're planning a visit or craving a new way of seeing, Visiting Akwa Ibom, Living in Uyo offers a window into a world where kindness is culture, time stretches sweetly, and the ordinary becomes unforgettable.

If you enjoy the works of Binyavanga Wainaina, Ruth Reichl, or Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s essays—this book is for you.

🛒 Add to cart and begin your journey to Uyo today.