Makena Onjerika(born 1980s) is a Kenyan writer, who won the 2018Caine Prize for African Writing,[2]making her the fourth writer from her country to do so—following wins byBinyavanga Wainainain 2002 andYvonne Adhiambo Owuorin 2003, andOkwiri Oduorin 2013.[3]
Makena Onjerika | |
|---|---|
 Onjerika at Lannan Center Reading Series,Georgetown University,March 2019 | |
| Born | 1980s[1] |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Notable awards | Caine Prize(2018) |
Career
editIn July 2018, Makena won the 2018Caine Prize for African Writing[4]– often described as Africa's leading literary award, for her short story entitled "Fanta Blackcurrant", published inWasafirimagazine (2017). The Chair of the Caine Prize judging panel, award-winning Ethiopian-American novelist and writerDinaw Mengestu,announced Makena as the winner of the £10,000 prize at an award dinner.[5]The ceremony was held for the second time inLondon University's Senate House, in partnership withSOASand the Centre for African Studies. Mengestu praised the story in his remarks, saying: "...the winner of this year’s Caine Prize is as fierce as they come – a narrative forged but not defined by the streets ofNairobi,a story that stands as more than just witness. Makena Onjerika’s 'Fanta Blackcurrant' presides over a grammar and architecture of its own making, one that eschews any trace of sentimentality in favour of a narrative that is haunting in its humour, sorrow and intimacy. "[6]
Makena is a graduate of theMFACreative Writing programme atNew York University,and has been published inUrban ConfusionsandWasafiri. She lives in Nairobi, Kenya, and is currently working on a fantasy novel.[7]She is a contributor to the 2019 anthologyNew Daughters of Africa,edited byMargaret Busby.[1]
Makena founded the Nairobi Fiction Writing Workshop and edited the anthologyDigital Bedbugs,composed of the stories from the workshop.[8]
References
edit- ^ab"Daughters of Africa | Contents"(PDF).Myriad Editions. pp. vii–xiv.Retrieved5 March2024.
- ^"2018 Winner - Makena Onjerika (Kenya)"Archived2018-07-06 at theWayback Machine,The Caine Prize for African Writing.
- ^Obi-Young, Otosirieze,"Makena Onjerika Awarded 2018 Caine Prize, Is 4th Kenyan Winner",Brittle Paper,2 July 2018.
- ^Valerie Koga,"Kenyan Makena Onjerika wins 2018 Caine Prize for African Writing",Daily Nation,3 July 2018.
- ^Nancy Agutu,"Kenyan writer Makena Onjerika wins Sh1.3m Caine Prize for African Writing",The Star(Kenya), 3 July 2018.
- ^"Kenya: 2018 Winner - Makena Onjerika (Kenya)",AllAfrica,3 July 2018.
- ^Alexander Opicho,"Kenyan writer Makena Onjerika on Caine Prize 2018 shortlist",Daily Nation,19 May 2018.
- ^Murua, James(2020-02-18)."Makena Onjerika-edited anthology 'Digital Bedbugs' available for your reading pleasure".Writing Africa.Retrieved2024-05-11.
External links
edit- "Makena Onjerika wins the 2018 Caine Prize",BBC World Service,3 July 2018.