Oil on Water is a 2010 petrofiction novel by Nigerian author Helon Habila. [1][2] The novel documents the experience of two journalists as they try to rescue a kidnapped European wife in …

Get ready to explore Oil on Water and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the …

May 16, 2011 · As Rufus and Zaq navigate polluted rivers flanked by exploded and dormant oil wells, in search of “the white woman,” they must contend with the brutality of both government …

Aug 1, 2010 · Set in the Niger Delta, Oil on Water examines the changes brought about by the oil industry, which drilled its first well in 1956 and has remained a permanent fixture ever since.

Jul 29, 2025 · Oil on Water is both a gripping thriller and a profound exploration of the human and environmental cost of oil extraction in the Niger Delta. Helon Habila uses the journey of two …

Young Rufus and his disgraced mentor, Zaq, track the wife’s captors—guerrilla forces fighting against the petroleum industry and its government allies—through the lush Nigerian delta, …

3 days ago · Iran has a record amount of oil on the water, equivalent to about 50 days of output, with China having bought ‌less because of sanctions and Tehran seeking to protect its supplies …

As Rufus and Zaq navigate polluted rivers flanked by exploded and dormant oil wells, in search of “the white woman,” they must contend with the brutality of both government soldiers and …

In a story rich with atmosphere and taut with suspense, Oil on Water explores the conflict between idealism and cynical disillusionment in a journey full of danger and unintended consequences.

“The new generation of twenty-first-century African writers have now come of age. Without a doubt Habila is one of the best.”—Emmanuel Dongala, Oil on Water, A Novel, Helon Habila, …