Meja Mwangi | |
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Born | David Dominic Mwangi 27 December 1948 Nanyuki, Kenya |
Education | Nanyuki Secondary School, Kenyatta College, University of Leeds |
Occupations |
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Agent | Annemarie Friedli |
Known for | One of Kenya's leading novelists; author of children's books |
Notable work |
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Awards | Fellow in Writing at the University of Iowa (1975–76). For awards for literary works, see §Meja Mwangi#Prizes and awards |
Website | mejamwangi |
Meja Mwangi (born 27 December 1948) is a Kenyan writer. [3] He has worked in the film industry, including in screenwriting, assistant directing, and casting.
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. [4] He then worked for the French Broadcasting Corporation doing odd jobs and the British Council in Nairobi as Visual Aids Officer, [5] before turning to writing full-time. He was Fellow in Writing at the University of Iowa (1975–76).
After a prolonged period on the Kenyan and African publishing scene, Mwangi moved to the US after gaining international recognition and winning several awards. [6]
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. [7]
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