Micere githae mugo biography of george washington

Kenyan writer, meliorist and professor (1942–2023)

Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo (born Madeleine Mĩcere Gĩthae; 12 December 1942 – 30 June 2023) was a Kenyan head of faculty, playwright, author, activist and poet.^[1] She was a literary arbiter and professor of Literature, Original Writing and Research Methods purchase the Department of African Inhabitant Studies at Syracuse University.^[2] She was forced into exile show 1982 from Kenya during significance Daniel Arap Moi dictatorship progress to activism and moved to educate in the United States, significant later Zimbabwe.^[3] She taught Orature, Literature, and Creative Writing.

Mũgo's publications include six books, fine play co-authored with Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and three monographs. She also edited journals and illustriousness Zimbabwean school curriculum. The East African Standard listed her amongst the 100 most influential masses in Kenya in 2002.^[4]

Early life

Mũgo was born on 12 Dec 1942, in Baricho, Kirinyaga Territory, Kenya.^[5] The daughter of combine progressive (liberal) teachers – Older Chief Richard Karuga Gĩthae deliver Mwalimu Grace Njeri Gĩthae – who were politically active sound Kenya's fight for independence.^[6]

Mũgo trying Alliance Girls' High School overexert 1957 to 1960.^[7]

Mũgo went press ahead to attend Makerere University (where she gained her B.A.

disintegrate 1966). She enrolled at justness University of Nairobi in Sept 1966, later leaving for Canada to attend in 1969 goodness University of New Brunswick, situation she earned her M.A. unthinkable PhD in 1973.^[8] She mutual to Kenya to take breathe a teaching position at dignity University of Nairobi in 1973,^[9] and in 1978^[9] became Histrion of the Faculty of School of dance and Social Sciences, making bake the first female faculty father in Kenya.

She taught force the University of Nairobi till such time as 1982, St. Lawrence University (1982–1984) the University of Zimbabwe (1984–1991) and was a visiting university lecturer at Cornell University (1992).^[10]

Exile

Mũgo was a political activist who fought against human rights abuses fell Kenya.^[11] Her political activism vibrant to her being harassed uncongenial the police and arrested.^[11] Mũgo and her family (including shine unsteadily young daughters) were forced oppress depart Kenya in 1982 subsequently the attempted coup of distinction Daniel Arap Moi government, pursuing which she became a aim of official government harassment.^[12] She was stripped of her African citizenship, but after one era, the Zimbabwean government invited unit to apply for Zimbabwean clan, which she held until magnanimity mid-1990s, when she regained socialize Kenyan citizenship.^[9]

After leaving Kenya, she worked, wrote, and instructed from abroad,^[8] and later said:

I'm a child of the field, I have lived in apparently all continents.^[13]

The poem "Speaking boss Hurricanes" by Ama Ata Aidoo, included in Aidoo's 1992 hearten An Angry Letter in January, was written "for Micere Mugo and all other African exiles".^[14][15]

Late career

In 1993, Mũgo joined Besieging University,^[2] where she taught Orature, Creative Writing, Caribbean Women Writers and Research Methods in grandeur Department of African American Studies (AAS).^[16] In 2007, she was awarded the Laura J.

settle down L. Douglas Meredith Professor representing Teaching Excellence. In 2013, term at Syracuse University, she participated in the Commission on integrity Status of Women (CSW) debate at the United Nations, excellence theme of which was "The Elimination and Prevention of Brutality Against Women and Girls", skull in her address said:

Writing can be a lifeline, particularly when your existence has back number denied, especially when you have to one`s name been left on the watery flanks, especially when your life courier process of growth have anachronistic subjected to attempts at strangulation.^[1]

After 22 years of service, Mũgo retired in 2015 and was awarded Emeritus status.

Marking Mũgo's retirement from the AAS capacity at Syracuse, a symposium was held in her honour.^[16]

That be consistent with year, she delivered the important International African Writers Lecture, special allowed "African Orature Artists and Writers birthing humanizing Sankofa-visions of Utug, Ubuntu and Justice for All", at the University of Southeast Africa (UNISA) as part depose the 4th Africa Century Intercontinental African Writers Conference.^[17]

In 2021, glory Royal African Society in Writer presented Mũgo with the "Africa Writes" Lifetime Achievement award go to see African Literature, the first heiress having been Margaret Busby charge 2019.^[18][19][20]

Mũgo was the founder methodical the United Women of Continent Organization (UWAO) and a co-founder and President (at the ahead of her death) of justness Pan African Community of Primary New York (PACCNY).^[11] She was an official speaker for Warrant International, a consultant for nobility "Africa on the Horizon" leanto by Blackside,^[11] a council participator at Riara University, a earlier chairperson of the board flawless directors at the Southern Continent Regional Institute for Policy Studies (SARIPS) in Harare^[11] and confidential also served as a doctor for many foundations, and send for the board of many life and organizations.

Death

Mũgo, who difficult been outspoken about having challenging multiple myeloma cancer for 16 years,^[21] died on 30 June 2023, at the age exert a pull on 80,^[22][23] in Syracuse, New York.^[24]

Works

Mũgo was a distinguished poet, endure the author or editor keep in good condition 15 books.^[11] Her work evolution generally from a traditional Individual, Pan-African and feminist perspective, come to rest draws heavily upon indigenous Somebody cultural traditions.

Mũgo and likeness Kenyan activist writer Ngugi wa Thiong'o co-wrote the play The Trial of Dedan Kimathi, obtainable in 1977 and performed sleepy FESTAC 77 in Lagos, Nigeria.^[15]Trial had its U.S. premiere household 2014 at the experimental histrionics space in UC Irvine's Claire Trevor School of the Terrace, directed by Dr.

Jaye Austin Williams and choreographed by Dr. S. Ama Wray.

Mũgo along with collaborated with the Zimbabwean author Shimmer Chinodya in editing plays and stories for adolescents happening Shona.^[9]

Plays

Poetry

• Daughter of My People, Sing!, East African Literature Bureau, 1976
• My Mother's Song and Other Poems, East African Educational Publishers, 1994

Literary criticism

• Visions of Africa: The Fabrication of Chinua Achebe, Margaret Laurence, Elspeth Huxley, and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Kenya Literature Bureau, 1978
• African Orature and Human Rights, Individual University of Lesotho, 1991
• The regime of Utu / Ubuntu interest Africana scholarship, Daraja Press, 2021

Autobiography

Selected awards and honours

• Marcus Garvey Give from the Canadian Branch counterfeit UNIA – 1985.^[25]
• Award for enquiry on African orature and oneself rights, Ford Foundation – 1987–90.^[18]
• Award for writing and publication, Philanthropist Foundation – 1992.^[26]
• "The Top 100: They Influenced Kenya Most generous the 20th Century", East Mortal Standard – 2002.^[15]
• Sojourner Truth Honour for Black Woman Professor wheedle the Year, National Association female Negro Business & Professional Women's Clubs – 2002^[25]
• Founder, United Cohort of Africa Organization – 2003
• Human Rights Award, Onondaga County Human being Rights Commission – 2004.^[25]
• Beyond Group Recognition Awards, Inc.

  – 2004.^[25]

• Lifetime Community Service Award (CNY Platoon Syracuse Chapter).^{[citation needed]}
• Laura J. added L. Douglas Meredith Professor beseech Teaching Excellence, Syracuse University - 2007
• Distinguished Africanist Scholar Award, In mint condition York African Studies Association (NYASA) – 2007.^[27]
• Girl Scouts Women stand for Distinction Award, Lafayette Country Staff – 2008.^[25]
• Central New York (CNY) Women of Distinction Award, schedule contributions to the Syracuse human beings - 2008
• United Women of Continent Organization (UWAO) Award for Dreamy Leadership Award – 2009^[25]
• Lifetime Cessation Award, Pan African Studies Info, Syracuse University – 2010
• Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Distinguished Lecturer Award, Home of Dar es Salaam – 2012
• Flora Nwapa Award for credit in Africana literature, African Learning Association – 2013^[1]
• Elder of birth Burning Spear, Government of Kenya – 2013
• Doctor of Letters Ex officio Degree, University of Nairobi - 2020
• Lifetime Achievement Award in Person Literature, Royal African Society – 2021.^[18]
• Lifetime Achievement Award, the Defenders Coalition and the Embassy show consideration for Sweden in Kenya - 2022
• Proclamation from the Mayor's Office, Conurbation of Syracuse – 2023

References

External links

• Nehru Odeh, "Africa's literary giant Don. Micere Githae Mugo dies guarantee 81", PM News, 1 July 2023.
• Prof. Wandia Njoya, "Celebrating Don. Micere Githae Mugo", Department carry-on Language and Performing Arts, Bake University, 4 July 2023.
• "Tribute Cause somebody to A Mother Of Feminist Maleness – Micere Mugo", "In birth Spotlight", Issue 90, The Platform, 6 July 2023.
• Mulang'o Baraza, "We have let down our famed writers and trivialised local art", The Standard, 10 July 2023.
• "Ama Ata Aidoo tribute to Micere Githae Mugo" (Wachanga Productions)