Okorafor started writing during a difficult period of her life. During her college years she went through an operation that temporarily paralyzed her. Before that she spent a lot of her time training and participating in different sport events. That wasn’t possible anymore. Okorafor had a lot of unused energy and free time on her hands, so she began her writing journey.
Later, she got a degree in English from the University of Illinois, followed by a Master's and PhD in Literature from the University of Chicago.
She has written several books, including Who Fears Death, Akata Witch, and the Binti trilogy, which have won numerous awards. Currently Okorafor is also a professor of creative writing at the University of Buffalo, New York. Her works often explore themes of identity, culture, and social justice, and she is known for creating strong female characters in her stories. What makes the Binti trilogy special is that the events of the book take place in the futuristic world.

This is the front cover art for the trilogy Binti written by Nnedi Okorafor. Copyright owner is Tor.com.

In addition to writing, Okorafor is also an advocate for environmental conservation and social issues affecting Africa.

In her blog Nnedi Okorafor wrote that the main inspiration for Binti’s story came from her own experience. She left her home in Chicago to be a professor at the University at Buffalo in New-York. Her family wasn’t supportive of this idea and Okorafor had to deal with the stress of moving and change by herself. She put her emotions into writing and into Binti’s character. Binti runs away from Earth to attend Oomza university, despite the fact that none of Himba people has ever done that before. The character, just like the author faces her fears, the uncertainty and separation from her family.

Another significant inspiration was African culture and traditions. Binti comes from the Himba people, a real ethnic group in Namibia. Okorafor uses elements of Himba culture throughout the book, including their beliefs in ancestor worship and the importance of community. Binti's connection to her culture is represented through her use of otjize, the red ochre paste used by the Himba on their skin. The novel highlights the importance of cultural heritage and the struggle to maintain one's identity in a world that often seeks to erase it.

Okorafor wanted to create a science-fiction book that would be inclusive and free of xenofobia. The Nigerian heritage inspired her to incorporate African cultures and traditions in her works. The author wanted to portray Africa as a diverse continent with significant cultural heritage and traditions. When she was growing up, there were not a lot of futuristic stories written by African authors. She couldn’t find any representation in this genre. Eventually, Okorafor decided to create this representation herself and started writing in the Africanfuturism genre.

Overall, Binti’s story shows us that we should not be afraid of who we are and who we want to become. We need to pursue our goals and celebrate our uniqueness and diversity. This trilogy is a unique combination of futurism, African heritage and simply emotions that many of us find relatable.