List of Kenyan writers
This is a list of Kenyan writers.
A
- Justus Kiprono (2019-)
- Abdilatif Abdalla (1946–)
- Carolyne Adalla
- Jared Angira (1947–), poet[Killam & Rowe]
- Jonah Anguka
- Khadambi Asalache (1934–), poet and author[Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]
B
- Karen Blixen a.k.a. Isak Dinesen (1885–1962), novelist
C
- Rocha Chimera, Swahili author and critic
D
- Hazel de Silva Mugot (1947–), novelist
- Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla
G
- Mugo Gatheru (1925– ), autobiographical writer[Jahn]
- Muga Gicaru (c. 1920– ), novelist[Jahn], real name as John Mwengi[1]
- Moraa Gitaa, author, novelist, short story writer, 2010 Penguin Prize for African Writing nominee, 2008
- Stanley Gazemba (1974–) author, novelist[2]
H
- Elspeth Huxley (1907–1997), journalist and autobiographical writer
I
- Francis Imbuga (1947–2012), director and playwright[Killam & Rowe]
K
- Samuel Kahiga, short story writer and novelist[Killam & Rowe]
- Joseph Elijah Kariuki (1931–1975), poet[Jahn]
- Amin Kassam (1948–), journalist and poet[Jahn]
- Jomo Kenyatta (1892?–1978), politician and writer[Gikandi & Mwangi] [Jahn]
- Leonard Kibera (1942–1983), novelist and short story writer[Gikandi & Mwangi] [Killam & Rowe]
- Wanjiru Kihoro (1953–2006), journalist, writer, academic, activist; produced Kenya News in the 1980s from London
- John Kiriamiti (1950–), writer of popular fiction[Gikandi & Mwangi]
- Henry Ole kulet (1950–), [Zakayo & Manexe]
- Kinyanjui Kombani (1981–), writer of popular fiction
L
- Muthoni Likimani (1926–)[Killam & Rowe]
- Jeff Lumiri (2015–), author, poet, and novelist[Killam & Rowe]
M
- Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye (1928–2015), novelist, essayist and poet
- Charles Mangua (c.1940–), fiction writer[Killam & Rowe]
- Anne Matindi (1942–), children's writer
- Ali A. Mazrui (1933– 2014), academic and political writer[Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]
- John Samuel Mbiti (1931–), poet and writer on religion[Jahn]
- Miguna Miguna
- Parmenas Githendu Mockerie (1900?–?), writer[3]
- Mwana Kupona binti Msham (died c.1865), Swahili poet
- Micere Mugo (1942–), playwright, academic and poet[Killam & Rowe]
- James Ngugi[Jahn]
- Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ (1971–)
- Ben Mutua Jonathan Muriithi, a.k.a. BMJ Muriithi, US-based Kenyan journalist, works for VOA (US) and NTV (Kenya)
- Joseph Muthee (1928–), Kikuyu writer
- Meja Mwangi (1948–), novelist[Killam & Rowe]
- Gitura Mwaura, development writer and journalist
N
- Rebecca Nandwa, Swahili children's writer[4]
- Alexander Nderitu (1979–), novelist, scriptwriter and Kenyan e-book and Print on Demand pioneer
- Mona L. Nduilu (1976–)[5]
- Stephen N. Ngubiah (1936–), novelist[Killam & Rowe]
- Ngugi wa Mirii (1951–2008), playwright
- Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (1938–), English-language and Gikuyu writer[Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]
- Rebeka Njau (1932–), novelist, playwright and poet[Gikandi & Mwangi] [Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]
- Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha (1952–), playwright
- Njeri Simon Gichimu (Kiswahili and children's story writer, Jomo and the Wild Cats)[6][7][8]
O
- Asenath Bole Odaga (1937–2014), publisher and author
- Atieno Odhiambo (1945–2009), academic
- Oginga Odinga (1912–1994), writer, philosopher and politician[Gikandi & Mwangi] [Jahn]
- Margaret Ogola (1958–2011)[Gikandi & Mwangi]
- Grace Ogot (1930–2015), writer and politician[Gikandi & Mwangi] [Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]
- Makena Onjerika, winner of the Caine Prize 2018
- Troy Onyango (1993–), writer
- Dominic Owuor Otiang'a (1987–), author, novelist[9][10][11]
- Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (1968–), winner of the Caine Prize 2003
P
- Shailja Patel, poet, playwright and activist
- Paul Kipchumba (1983–), poet and prose writer
R
- Mwangi Ruheni (1934–), scientist and popular novelist[Gikandi & Mwangi] [Killam & Rowe]
S
V
- M. G. Vassanji (1950–), novelist and editor
- Iman Verjee
W
- Wanuri Kahiu (1980–), film director, producer and writer[12]
- Wangui wa Goro (1961–), academic and translator[13]
- Koigi wa Wamwere (1949–), politician and writer
- Godwin Wachira (1936–), novelist[Killam & Rowe]
- Charity Waciuma (1936–), novelist[Killam & Rowe]
- Binyavanga Wainaina (1971–2019), founder and editor of Kwani?, winner of the Caine Prize 2002
- Gakaara Wanjau (1921–2001), writer and Gikuyu nationalist
- Kenneth Watene (1944–), playwright[Killam & Rowe]
- Miriam Were (1940–), public health advocate, academic and novelist[Killam & Rowe]
- Wanjiru Koinange, writer, restorer of libraries and entrepreneur[14]
References
- ^ Staaf, Rune (2011). "Afrikansk Litteratur på Svenska 1949-1974 (Thesis on the librarian training)" (PDF). Borås Academic Digital Archive (BADA). BADA - University of Borås. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ^ "Stanley Gazemba | the Mantle".
- ^ Angus Calder "The Journal of Commonwealth Literature March 1983 vol. 18 no. 1 128-130", 6. A Note on Parmenas Mockerie
- ^ Kiundu Waweru, "Champions of the writers' bloc", The Standard, 29 May 2009.
- ^ Gitonga, Catherine (2007). Can Scars Become Stars. Nairobi: Revival Springs Media. p. 312. ISBN 978-9966-7241-0-6.
- ^ Gichimu, Simon (25 August 2017). Jomo and the Wild Cats. ISBN 978-1-9758-1063-4.
- ^ "The Guide Kenya". The Guide Kenya. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ "2017 the year that was". Daily Nation. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ Verlag Edition Solitude. Person:Dominic Otiang'a. Field of Practice: Literature
- ^ Goethe Institute: our “Frankly …” column series is written by Dominic Otiang’a
- ^ Deutsche Nationalbibliothek: Der deutsche Traum Otiang'a, Dominic. - Stuttgart : Akad. Schloss Solitude, 2015.ISBN 978-3-937158-88-4
- ^ Stevenson, Deborah (29 November 2017). "The Wooden Camel by Wanuri Kahiu (review)". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 71 (4): 164. doi:10.1353/bcc.2017.0865. ISSN 1558-6766. S2CID 201780558.
- ^ Golden Rhino Film Festival Jury Panel Archived 18 September 2012 at archive.today
- ^ "Kenyan women lead bold revival of libraries' faded glory". The East African. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- [Gikandi] Simon Gikandi, ed., Encyclopedia of African Literature. Routledge, 2002. ISBN 978-0-415-23019-3
- [Gikandi & Mwangi] Simon Gikandi & Evan Mwangi, ed., The Columbia Guide to East African Literature in English Since 1945. Columbia University Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0-231-12520-8
- [Killam & Rowe] Douglas Killam & Ruth Rowe, eds, The Companion to African Literatures. James Currey & Indiana University Press, 2000. ISBN 0-253-33633-3
- [Jahn] Janheinz Jahn, Ulla Schild & Almut Nordmann Seiler, eds., Who's who in African Literature: Biographies, Works, Commentaries. Horst Erdmann Verlag, 1972. ISBN 978-3-7711-0153-4