Meja Mwangi (born 27 December 1948) is a Kenyan writer.
He has worked in the film industry, including in
screenwriting,
assistant directing, and
casting.
Biography
Mwangi was born David Dominic Mwangi in
Nanyuki, Kenya, and was educated at Nanyuki Secondary School,
Kenyatta College, and briefly at the
University of Leeds.
[He did not complete a full university degree at University of Leeds.] He then worked for the French Broadcasting Corporation doing odd jobs and the British Council in Nairobi as Visual Aids Officer, before turning to writing full-time. He was
Fellow in Writing at the
University of Iowa (1975-6).
After a prolonged period on the Kenyan and African publishing scene, Mwangi moved to the US after gaining international recognition and winning several awards.
His best-known early work includes the novels ''Kill Me Quick'' (1973), ''Going Down River Road'' (1976), and ''The Cockroach Dance'' (1979), which illustrate the urban landscapes of Kenya, the struggle against poverty, and the AIDS epidemic.
Prizes and awards
For general readers
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Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature
The Text Book Centre Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature is a biennial literary award given by the Kenya Publishers' Association. It has been called "the most prestigious literary award in the country".
The first award ceremony took place in 197 ...
for ''
Kill Me Quick ''Kill Me Quick'', published in 1973, is a novel by Meja Mwangi. The novel won the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature in 1974.
Plot
The story follows Meja and Maina, two young boys who move to the city after obtaining their secondary school diplo ...
'' (1974 - English winner); ''The Last Plague'' (2001 - English winner); ''Boy Gift'' (2007 - English Youth third place); ''Big Chief'' (2009 - English Adult Fiction third place).
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Lotus Prize for Literature
The Lotus Prize for Literature (also known as Lotus International Reward for Literature or The Lotus Prize for African and Asian Literature) is a literary award presented annually to African and Asian authors by the Afro-Asian Writers' Associat ...
(1978) presented by the Afro-Asian Writers' Association (aka Association of Asian and African Writers)
For juvenile readers
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Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis (German Youth Literature Prize), for ''Kariuki und sein weißer Freund. Eine Erzählung aus Kenia'' (''Little White Man'' (1990), title changed to ''The Mzungu Boy'' (1992))
*Le Prix Lire au College for ''Kariuki'' (1992)
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American Library Association (USA) Notable Children's Books Award for Older Readers, ''The Mzungu Boy'' (2006)
Shortlist
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Noma Award The Noma Prizes were established by Shoichi Noma, or in his honor. More than one award is conventionally identified as the ''Noma Prize''. Noma was the former head of Kodansha, the Japanese publishing and bookselling company. Kodansha is Japan' ...
(Honourable mention), for ''Bread of Sorrow'' (1989)
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International Dublin Literary Award (Nomination), for ''The Last Plague'' (2002)
Literary works
In English
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* Adapted for the film "Cry Freedom
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Translations
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Theatre, screenplays, other adaptations
* (adaptation of ''The Big Chiefs'' - 2007)
* (adaptation of ''Mama Dudu, the Insect Woman'' - 2007)
Filmography
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References
External links
Official website*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mwangi, Meja
1948 births
Living people
Kenyan writers
International Writing Program alumni
Kenyan screenwriters
People from Laikipia County