On 19 October 2026, forty years to the day after journalist Dele Giwa was killed by a parcel bomb, his former colleagues unveiled Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism in Lagos. The book is edited by Ray Ekpu, a Newswatch co-founder, with a foreword by Yemi Ogunbiyi. It collects Giwa’s own writing alongside interviews and tributes, and it turns attention from the question of who killed him to the journalism he left behind.
The short answer: it is a collection of Dele Giwa’s journalism, edited by Ray Ekpu, and you can buy Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism by Ray Ekpu from Sunshine Bookseller.
Quick facts about the book
- Title: Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism
- Editor: Ray Ekpu
- Foreword: Yemi Ogunbiyi
- Launched: 19 October 2026, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos
- Subject: the journalism of Dele Giwa, founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch
- Price at Sunshine Bookseller: ₦35,000 when this article was prepared on 25 October 2026. View the book and current price.
Who was Dele Giwa?
Dele Giwa was a Nigerian journalist and editor born in 1947. He was a founding figure of Newswatch, the weekly newsmagazine that began publishing on 28 January 1985, and served as its editor-in-chief. Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohammed founded it with him. Newswatch is widely credited with bringing bolder, investigative reporting to Nigerian magazines, and Giwa’s editorship is central to that reputation.
He was 39 when a parcel bomb delivered to his home in Ikeja, Lagos, killed him on 19 October 1986. The case remains unsolved. Premium Times notes that the killing was widely blamed on the then military government, while former president Ibrahim Babangida has consistently denied involvement. Giwa’s death became a lasting symbol in debates about press freedom in Nigeria. Dan Agbese’s own account is available at the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Who is Ray Ekpu, and why does he matter here?
Ekpu co-founded Newswatch and served as Giwa’s deputy. Coverage of the launch reports that the two families shared a duplex in Ikeja, so the editor is also a close witness to the man whose writing he has gathered. At the launch, Ekpu said the aim was not to mourn but to “give presence to his absence” with a book that would last.
What is inside Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism?
According to launch coverage, the book gathers selected articles Giwa wrote for the Daily Times, The Sunday Concord and Newswatch, together with interviews and writing about his influence. Reviewer Simon Kolawole, as reported by Leadership, described the contents as 74 pieces by Giwa, two interviews with him and 16 tributes from leading journalists and writers of his generation, some now deceased.
Kolawole also said the collection shows Giwa writing beyond Nigerian affairs, including on international politics, race relations and the Western media, and that it does not present him as a saint. Those are the reviewer’s observations from the launch. This article does not claim to have read the full text.
Order Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism online from Sunshine Bookseller
Why this book matters for Nigerian journalism
For decades, public conversation about Giwa has centred on the unsolved case. Leadership’s report of the launch describes this book as a shift toward documenting his journalistic footprints, and Kolawole framed it as a reminder that Giwa was first an outstanding journalist and storyteller. Kolawole said the pieces on press freedom, censorship, political power and professional ethics show an abiding concern for journalism’s role in society.
Preserving primary writing matters. Magazine and newspaper articles from the 1970s and 1980s are hard to find, and a curated volume lets students and researchers read the work itself rather than only commentary about it.
Who should read it?
- Journalism students and lecturers, who can study reporting and commentary from a defining era of Nigerian print media.
- Working journalists and editors, who may value Kolawole’s list of lessons in curiosity, courage, clarity, storytelling, discipline and originality.
- Historians and political-science readers interested in how the press operated under military rule.
- General readers who want to meet Giwa through his own prose.
What today’s readers can take from it
At the launch, Ekpu cited International Federation of Journalists figures that 128 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide in 2025, and he called for better protection and accountability. Readers will not need to agree with every view in the book to see why the questions it raises (how to report fearlessly, accurately and fairly) still apply to newsrooms and audiences now.
Frequently asked questions
What is Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism about?
It is a collection of the journalism of Dele Giwa, with interviews and tributes, edited by Ray Ekpu. Launch coverage says it draws on Giwa’s writing for the Daily Times, The Sunday Concord and Newswatch.
Who wrote or edited the book?
Giwa wrote the articles collected in it. Ray Ekpu edited the volume, and Yemi Ogunbiyi wrote the foreword.
Who was Dele Giwa?
A Nigerian journalist and founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch magazine, killed by a parcel bomb on 19 October 1986 at age 39.
Why is Dele Giwa important in Nigerian journalism?
Newswatch under his editorship is credited with advancing investigative reporting in Nigeria, and his killing became a lasting symbol in discussions of press freedom.
Where can I buy Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism in Nigeria?
On the Sunshine Bookseller product page.
How can I order it online?
Open the product page, choose a quantity, tap Add to cart and complete checkout, or use the WhatsApp button on the page.
How much does it cost?
The page showed ₦35,000 on 25 October 2026. Prices can change, so check the product page.
Who should read it?
Journalists, journalism students, historians, political-science readers and anyone interested in Nigerian press history.
Where to buy Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism online
Sunshine Bookseller lists the book on its official product page: Buy Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism by Ray Ekpu. The page shows the current price and stock status, and you can add the book to your cart or message the shop on WhatsApp. Check the page for the latest price and delivery options at checkout.
You can also reach the store on +234 802 870 8577 or visit it in Ibadan (opposite JoyVille Private School, Sitaga Bus Stop, along Sango/Eleyele; Monday to Saturday, 8:00am to 6:00pm, per the store page).
If you are exploring related reading, browse Sunshine Bookseller’s Nigerian Politics and Biography categories, or the shop’s Dele Giwa tag.
Order Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism now
Sources: Premium Times (20 Oct 2026); Leadership; TheNiche; Arise News; Committee to Protect Journalists. Facts checked 25 October 2026.
