List of Kenyan Artists - Authors

Authors

  • Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o - novelist, playwright, essayist
  • Grace Ogot - short story writer, novelist
  • Chris Lukorito Wanjala - critic, short story writer
  • Binyavanga Wainaina - author

Bulinya Bulinyanga poet /historian: Bulinya Bulinyanga was born in Western Kenya among the Abaluyia. He wrote his first book entitled The Babukusu in the Bible in 2005. In it he points out that his people the Bukusu are part of the remnants of Kush. Others include the Abagusii, the Uasin Gishu Maasai, the Bakusu of Congo and others scattered in other parts of Ethiopia and Tanzania. The Bukusu had an official custodian of a people's history called "Omuseni". It was his duty to learn every detail of the tribe by memorizing and recitation. Every important occasion in the society was an opportunity to recite, sing and dance a peoples history. Every male was the chief custodian of both the family and clan history. Bulinya inherited his from his father. By comparing the Biblical details and those of his tradition it became apparent that his people the Bukusu are some of the remnants of the Ancient Kush. Kush once ruled from Africa to India. Kush or Cush was an African civilization south of Ancient Egypt in Nubia, which is located in the modern-day North African nation of Sudan. Though influenced by (and influencing) Egypt, it was a distinct culture and civilization and was one of the earliest civilizations to develop in the Nile River Valley. Kush - Origins. The first developed societies appeared in Nubia around the time of the First Egyptian Dynasty. The first known Kushite state was the Kingdom of Kerma, which appeared c. 2600 BC. Cush, Standard Hebrew Kuš or Tiberian Hebrew Kûš, was the eldest son of Ham, brother of Chanaan and the father of Nimrod, known as Namuloti in Bukusu, mentioned in the Table of Nations in the Book of Genesis (X. 60) and in I Chronicles (I. 8), usually considered the eponym of the people of Kush. Six Arabian tribes are also sons of Cush. In Genesis Cush was the father of the Saba, called Masaba in Bukusu, Havilah, Sabtah (Sabita in Bukusu), Raamah and Sabteca (Sabitekain Bukusu). The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. He is also the father of Nimrod Another person. Bulinya Bulinyanga's poems are also published under the title The Song of Sirikwa Mbayi (2008). The Epic of Sirikwa Mbayi is an ancient poem from Ancient Kush and is among the earliest known works of oral literature. The author believes that it originated as a series of Bukusu legends and poems about the protagonist of the story, Muntu and his descendants including Mwambu, Mwaabini down to Maina of Silimani which were fashioned into a longer epics much later. The author has retold this story in the modern version.

The story revolves around a relationship between Muntu believed to have been a real ruler in the late 11th dynasty in Ancient Egypt and his descendants. Muntu the son of Saba, king of Kush is thrown out of his kingdom by a hostile uncle called Mimbi. He is exiled in Alwa of King Rwa. Being the chosen one of the gods of both Kush and Misri, he enters Misri then under the oppressive Lukulu, and overthrow them. Mwambu the son of Muntu marries Serah the daughter of Wasiela a descendant of Samba Ambarani the first man to be circumcised in the east. Together they rule the joint kingdoms Kush and Misri to its glorious splendor. When the disaster strikes and the Nile dries up, together they undertake dangerous quests that incur the displeasure of the gods. Firstly, Mwambu journey to the Mountain of the Moon to defeat Mbilimbili Nyanja the monster. Serah kills the notorious invaders who takeover the kingdom in the absence of Mwambu. The latter part of the epic focuses on other hero kings all descendants of Muntu, who set out to find the land promised to them by Khakaba their god. Muntu Saba attempts to learn the secret of eternal life by undertaking a long and perilous journey to meet the immortal flood hero, of the Mountains of the Moon.

  • Henry Wanyonyi Makokha - poet /essayist
  • John Mbiti
  • Ken Waliaula
  • Ngugi wa Mirii
  • Micere Githae Mugo
  • B. M. J. Muriithi
  • Wahome Mutahi
  • Meja Mwangi
  • Gitura Mwaura
  • John Kiriamiti
  • F. K. Makila
  • Binyavanga Wainaina
  • Koigi wa Wamwere
  • Gakaara wa Wanjaũ
  • Atieno Odhiambo
  • Bethwell Allan Ogot
  • Grace Ogot
  • Christopher Odhiambo Okinda
  • Michael Ndurumo
  • Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ
  • Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha
  • Daniel Kamau
  • Josiah Mwangi Kariuki
  • Jomo Kenyatta
  • Elspeth Huxley
  • Mugo Gatheru
  • John Rugoiyo Gichuki
  • Eastlandah David (Wesonga)
  • Maina wa Kinyatti

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