Contents
Asenath Bole Odaga
Kenyan-language publishing and stories rooted in children’s lives.
The Villager’s Son · Yesterday’s Today
- Born
- 5 July 1938
- Birthplace
- Rarieda, Kenya
- Died
- 1 December 2014
More people
Asenath Bole Odaga
Kenyan author and publisher who wrote fiction, plays and children’s books. Her work also preserved Luo oral narratives and encouraged writing in Kenyan languages.
Early life
Education
Studied at Alliance Girls High School and the University of Nairobi, where her postgraduate work examined the educational value of Luo oral narratives.
Career
- 1982
Lake Publishers
Established a publishing business.
- 1986
Women’s writing
Founded the Kenya Women Literature Group to encourage work by and for women.
- Later work
Bookselling
Opened the Thu-Thinda bookstore in Kisumu.
Selected work
The Villager’s Son
An early work of fiction.
Yesterday’s Today
A study of oral literature.
Luo oral narratives
Published research on their educational values.
Beyond work
Language advocacy
Promoted the use of Kenyan languages in literature and wanted children to recognise their own communities and backgrounds in books.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: unknown. Source credit retained; reuse licence not established · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.