Meja Mwangi (born 27 December 1948) is a Kenyan writer.
He has worked in the film industry, including in
screenwriting
Screenwriting or scriptwriting is the art and craft of writing scripts for mass media such as feature films, television productions or video games. It is often a freelance profession.
Screenwriters are responsible for researching the story, de ...
,
assistant directing, and
casting
Casting is a manufacturing process in which a liquid material is usually poured into a mold, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then allowed to solidify. The solidified part is also known as a ''casting'', which is ejected ...
.
Biography
Mwangi was born David Dominic Mwangi in
Nanyuki
Nanyuki is a Market town in Laikipia County of Kenya lying northwest of Mount Kenya along the A2 road and at the terminus of the branch railway from Nairobi. The name is derived from Enyaanyukie Maasai word for resemblance.
It is situated just ...
, Kenya, and was educated at Nanyuki Secondary School,
Kenyatta College, and briefly at the
University of Leeds
, mottoeng = And knowledge will be increased
, established = 1831 – Leeds School of Medicine1874 – Yorkshire College of Science1884 - Yorkshire College1887 – affiliated to the federal Victoria University1904 – 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
The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized into 12 col ...
(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
*
Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature for ''
Kill Me Quick'' (1974 - English winner); ''The Last Plague'' (2001 - English winner); ''Boy Gift'' (2007 - English Youth third place); ''Big Chief'' (2009 - English Adult Fiction third place).
*
Lotus Prize for Literature (1978) presented by the Afro-Asian Writers' Association (aka Association of Asian and African Writers)
For juvenile readers
*
Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
The (German Youth Literature Award) is an annual award established in 1956 by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to recognise outstanding works of children's and young adult literature. It is Germany's only ...
(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)
*
American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 49,727 members ...
(USA) Notable Children's Books Award for Older Readers, ''The Mzungu Boy'' (2006)
Shortlist
*
Noma Award (Honourable mention), for ''Bread of Sorrow'' (1989)
*
International Dublin Literary Award
The International Dublin Literary Award ( ga, Duais Liteartha Idirnáisiúnta Bhaile Átha Chliath), established as the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 1996, is presented each year for a novel written or translated into English. ...
(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