Clark, also known as Johnson Pepper Clark Bekederemo, was born on April 6, 1935, in Kiagbodo, Nigeria. He is the son of Clark Fuludu Bekederemo, an Ijaw tribal leader, and his wife, Poro. Clark received his elementary education at three different primary schools in the 1940s. He went on to a government college, Ughelli, and earned his Cambridge School Certificate in 1954. After working for a year as a government clerk, Clark entered the University of Ibadan.

During his time at the university, Clark began participating in literary activities. He founded The Horn. a poetry journal, and wrote poetry himself. He published his first volume, Poems, in 1962. Clark also wrote his first play, Song of a Goal, which was produced at the university in 196]. Clark earned his B.A. with honors in 1960.

After graduation, Clark primarily made his living by working with, and for, the media. He spent a...