Onyinye Iwu

Illustrator Onyinye Iwu was born in Italy to Nigerian parents and moved to the UK as a teenager. She has a first degree in Architecture, a Postgraduate Education certificate in Design Technology and a Masters degree in Culture Diaspora Ethnicity. She teaches design and aims to be a role model and inspiration to young black people living in the diaspora

In her work, Onyinye focuses on the representation of people of African and Caribbean background. She has designed a wide range of book covers, including for Cassava Republic's romance imprint Ankara Press, and for the UK edition of Nnedi Okorafor’s award-winning title What Sunny Saw in the Flames.

Her latest book is The Best Jollof Rice Ever (Otter-Barry, June 2025) which Onyinye both wrote and illustrated. It's a funny and heart-warming read-aloud story about sharing and the joy of cooking together!

Onyinye has also illustrated Sala Mountain Warrior (Otter-Barry Books) by Wakanyi Hoffman. Set in the Samburu region of northern Kenya, this is an exciting, inspirational story about courage and empowerment.

Onyinye is a fluent Italian speaker and lived in Brescia, Italy until the age of 13. She now lives, teaches and draws in London.

Instagram: onichum

Twitter: onichum

Website: https://www.onyinyeiwu.com/

Artwork: Onyinye Iwu