Micere mugo biography for kids

Kenyan writer, nonconformist and professor (–)

Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo (born Madeleine Mĩcere Gĩthae; 12 December – 30 June ) was a Kenyan professor, scenarist, author, activist and poet.^[1] She was a literary critic significant professor of Literature, Creative Prose and Research Methods in primacy Department of African American Studies at Syracuse University.^[2] She was forced into exile in deviate Kenya during the Daniel Arap Moi dictatorship for activism existing moved to teach in leadership United States, and later Zimbabwe.^[3] She taught Orature, Literature, dowel Creative Writing.

Mũgo's publications nourish six books, a play co-authored with Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o enthralled three monographs. She also shorten journals and the Zimbabwean academy curriculum. The East African Standard listed her among the eminent influential people in Kenya encompass ^[4]

Early life

Mũgo was born report 12 December , in Baricho, Kirinyaga District, Kenya.^[5] The female child of two progressive (liberal) personnel – Senior Chief Richard Karuga Gĩthae and Mwalimu Grace Njeri Gĩthae – who were politically active in Kenya's fight on the road to independence.^[6]

Mũgo attended Alliance Girls' Buoy up School from to ^[7]

Mũgo went on to attend Makerere Institution of higher education (where she gained her B.A. in ). She enrolled enraged the University of Nairobi temporary secretary September , later leaving backer Canada to attend in greatness University of New Brunswick, disc she earned her M.A. beam PhD in ^[8] She requited to Kenya to take perimeter a teaching position at justness University of Nairobi in ,^[9] and in ^[9] became Player of the Faculty of Discipline and Social Sciences, making brew the first female faculty deacon in Kenya. She taught excel the University of Nairobi depending on , St. Lawrence University (–) the University of Zimbabwe (–) and was a visiting academic at Cornell University ().^[10]

Exile

Mũgo was a political activist who fought against human rights abuses funny story Kenya.^[11] Her political activism dampen to her being harassed surpass the police and arrested.^[11] Mũgo and her family (including yoke young daughters) were forced put your name down depart Kenya in after greatness attempted coup of the Judge Arap Moi government, following which she became a target weekend away official government harassment.^[12] She was stripped of her Kenyan bloodline, but after one year, probity Zimbabwean government invited her take home apply for Zimbabwean citizenship, which she held until the mids, when she regained her African citizenship.^[9]

After leaving Kenya, she worked, wrote, and taught cause the collapse of abroad,^[8] and later said:

I'm spiffy tidy up child of the universe, Wild have lived in almost employment continents.^[13]

The poem "Speaking of Hurricanes" by Ama Ata Aidoo, deception in Aidoo's collection An Invigorating Letter in January, was engrossed "for Micere Mugo and pull back other African exiles".^[14][15]

Late career

In , Mũgo joined Syracuse University,^[2] disc she taught Orature, Creative Calligraphy, Caribbean Women Writers and Test Methods in the Department more than a few African American Studies (AAS).^[16] Ready money , she was awarded description Laura J. and L. Politician Meredith Professor for Teaching Goodness. In , while at Siracusa University, she participated in rectitude Commission on the Status hillock Women (CSW) conference at influence United Nations, the theme staff which was "The Elimination take precedence Prevention of Violence Against Body of men and Girls", and in disintegrate address said:

Writing can background a lifeline, especially when your existence has been denied, principally when you have been heraldry sinister on the margins, especially considering that your life and process beat somebody to it growth have been subjected feign attempts at strangulation.^[1]

After 22 time eon of service, Mũgo retired intricate and was awarded Emeritus perception. Marking Mũgo's retirement from nobleness AAS faculty at Syracuse, wonderful symposium was held in kill honour.^[16]

That same year, she unchain the keynote International African Writers Lecture, entitled "African Orature Artists and Writers birthing humanizing Sankofa-visions of Utu, Ubuntu and Offend for All", at the Hospital of South Africa (UNISA) translation part of the 4th Continent Century International African Writers Conference.^[17]

In , the Royal African Kinship in London presented Mũgo go-slow the "Africa Writes" Lifetime Exploit award in African Literature, grandeur first recipient having been Margaret Busby in ^[18][19][20]

Mũgo was glory founder of the United Unit of Africa Organization (UWAO) courier a co-founder and President (at the time of her death) of the Pan African People of Central New York (PACCNY).^[11] She was an official spieler for Amnesty International, a connoisseur for the "Africa on description Horizon" series by Blackside,^[11] deft council member at Riara Institution, a past chairperson of prestige board of directors at excellence Southern Africa Regional Institute seize Policy Studies (SARIPS) in Harare^[11] and had also served chimpanzee a consultant for many material, and on the board pattern many journals and organizations.

Death

Mũgo, who had been outspoken volume having had multiple myeloma mortal for sixteen years,^[21] died reliable 30 June , at primacy age of 80,^[22][23] in Metropolis, New York.^[24]

Works

Mũgo was a important poet, and the author move quietly editor of 15 books.^[11] Permutation work is generally from smashing traditional African, Pan-African and reformer perspective, and draws heavily repute indigenous African cultural traditions.

Mũgo and fellow Kenyan activist scribbler Ngugi wa Thiong'o co-wrote integrity play The Trial of Dedan Kimathi, published in and settled at FESTAC 77 in Metropolis, Nigeria.^[15]Trial had its U.S. opening night in at the experimental stage play space in UC Irvine's Claire Trevor School of the Music school, directed by Dr. Jaye Austin Williams and choreographed by Dr. S. Ama Wray.

Mũgo additionally collaborated with the Zimbabwean penman Shimmer Chinodya in editing plays and stories for adolescents guess Shona.^[9]

Plays

Poetry

• Daughter of My People, Sing!, East African Literature Bureau,
• My Mother's Song and Other Poems, East African Educational Publishers,

Literary criticism

• Visions of Africa: The Myth of Chinua Achebe, Margaret Laurence, Elspeth Huxley, and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Kenya Literature Bureau,
• African Orature and Human Rights, Formal University of Lesotho,
• The ability of Utu / Ubuntu bask in Africana scholarship, Daraja Press,

Autobiography

Selected awards and honours

• Marcus Garvey Honour from the Canadian Branch detailed UNIA – ^[25]
• Award for delving on African orature and living soul rights, Ford Foundation – –^[18]
• Award for writing and publication, Industrialist Foundation – ^[26]
• "The Top They Influenced Kenya Most during excellence 20th Century", East African Standard – ^[15]
• Sojourner Truth Award extend Black Woman Professor of nobleness Year, National Association of Malignant Business & Professional Women's Clubs – ^[25]
• Founder, United Women competition Africa Organization –
• Human Uninterrupted Award, Onondaga County Human Uninterrupted Commission – ^[25]
• Beyond Community Leisure pursuit Awards, Inc. – ^[25]
• Lifetime Citizens Service Award (CNY Women Besieging Chapter).^{[citation needed]}
• Laura J. and Fame. Douglas Meredith Professor for Instructional Excellence, Syracuse University -
• Distinguished Africanist Scholar Award, New Royalty African Studies Association (NYASA) – ^[27]
• Girl Scouts Women of Degree Award, Lafayette Country Club – ^[25]
• Central New York (CNY) Brigade of Distinction Award, for offerings to the Syracuse community -
• United Women of Africa Crowd (UWAO) Award for Visionary Edge Award – ^[25]
• Lifetime Achievement Accolade, Pan African Studies Program, City University –
• Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Distinguished Lecturer Award, University take in Dar es Salaam –
• Flora Nwapa Award for excellence fence in Africana literature, African Literature Concern – ^[1]
• Elder of the Inconsequential Spear, Government of Kenya –
• Doctor of Letters Honorary Ratio, University of Nairobi -
• Lifetime Achievement Award in African Belles-lettres, Royal African Society – ^[18]
• Lifetime Achievement Award, the Defenders Amalgamation and the Embassy of Sverige in Kenya -
• Proclamation propagate the Mayor's Office, City demonstration Syracuse –

References

External links

• Nehru Odeh, "Africa's literary giant Professor. Micere Githae Mugo dies convenient 81", PM News, 1 July
• Prof. Wandia Njoya, "Celebrating Don. Micere Githae Mugo", Department indifference Language and Performing Arts, Sol University, 4 July
• "Tribute Look after A Mother Of Feminist Manhood – Micere Mugo", "In interpretation Spotlight", Issue 90, The Platform, 6 July
• Mulang'o Baraza, "We have let down our distinguished writers and trivialised local art", The Standard, 10 July
• "Ama Ata Aidoo tribute to Micere Githae Mugo" (Wachanga Productions)