Asenath Bole Odaga

Asenath Bole Odaga (5 July 1938 – 1 December 2014) was a Kenyan publisher and author of novels, plays, children's books, and other literary works. Odaga also promoted literature in Kenyan languages and the study of oral literature by writing in Luo and co-authoring a guide to oral literature for students.[1][2]

Asenath Bole Odaga
Born(1938-07-05)5 July 1938
Rarieda, Kenya
Died1 December 2014(2014-12-01) (aged 77)
Kisumu, Kenya
EducationAlliance Girls High School
Alma materUniversity of Nairobi
Occupation(s)Author, publisher
Parent(s)Blasto Akumu Aum and Patricia Abuya Abok
Websitewww.asenathboleodaga.com/her-story

Biography

Born in Rarieda, Kenya, on 5 July 1938,[3] Asenath Bole Odaga was educated at Alliance Girls High School and University of Nairobi.[4] At the University of Nairobi, Odaga submitted a thesis for the Master of Arts degree: Educational Values of "Sigendeni Luo": The Kenya Luo Oral Narratives.[5]

In 1982, Odaga founded Lake Publishers, becoming the first female publisher in Kenya.[6] She would later open the Thu-Thinda bookstore in Kisumu.[6] She founded the Kenya Women Literature Group in 1986, with the intention of developing works in Kenyan languages by and for women.[7]

Odaga also wrote books for children, saying: "I thought that children should have something to read about their own background and the other children they know, real African heroes with whom they can identify"[8] These stories often focus on the daily life of children.[9]

Asenath Bole Odaga died in Kisumu on 1 December 2014.[10]

Legacy

Odaga was listed by the Daily Nation as one of the writers having the most impact on Kenyan society.[11] Her work has been cited as an influence on Kenyan novelist Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor.[12]

Published works
  • English—Dholuo Dictionary[13]
  • The Villager's Son (1971)[14]
  • Thu tinda : stories from Kenya (1980)[15]
  • Yesterday's today : a study of oral literature (1984)
  • Ogilo nungo piny kirom (1983)[16]
  • The Shade Changes (1984)
  • Nyamgondho wuod ombare gi sigendini luo moko (1985)
  • The Storm (1985)
  • Literature for children and young people in Kenya (1985)
  • Munde goes to the market (1987), with Adrienne Moore
  • A bridge in time (1987)
  • Munde and his friends (1987)
  • Between the years (1987)
  • Jande's ambition (1988)
  • The silver cup (1988)
  • The hare's blanket. And other stories (1989), with Adrienne Moore
  • Poko nyar migumba : gi sigend luo mamoko (1989), with
  • The diamond ring (1989)
  • The angry flames (1989), with Adrienne Moore
  • The secret of the monkey rock (1989)[17]
  • Riana (1991)
  • A night on a tree (1991)
  • My home (1991)
  • The love ash, rosa and other stories (1992)
  • Simbi nyaima (1993)
  • Basic English-Luo words and phrases (1993)
  • Why the hyena has a crooked neck and other stories (1993)
  • Endless road (1995)
  • Luo sayings (1995)[18]
  • Something for nothing (2001)[19]
  • Mogen jabare (2003)[20]
  • Nyangi gi Otis (2004)[21]
  • The Luo oral literature and educational values of its narratives (2010)[22]

References
  1. Ndago-Kabira, Abnea. "Asenath Odaga: Matriach who bequeathed us rich literature and sense of belonging". Kenya Standard Digital / SDE.CO.KE. Archived from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  2. Amuka, Peter (1985). "Oral Literature: A School Certificate Course (Book Review". Research in African Literatures. 16 (3): 430–31. JSTOR 3819137.
  3. 1937 is the birth year given on the Asenath Bole Odaga website (https://www.asenathboleodaga.com/her-story), although 1937 is cited by others.
  5. Odaga, Asenath Bole (1980). Educational Value of "Sigendeni Luo": The Kenya Luo Oral Narratives (PDF). University of Nairobi. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  6. Kabale, Nasibo (17 November 2017). "Asenath Bole Odaga :The queen of folklore". Evewoman (Kenya Standard). Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  7. Pugliese, Cristiana (1994). "Kenyan Publishers in Vernacular Languages: Gikuyu, Kikamba and Dholuo". Africa: Rivista Trimestrale di Studi e Documentazione dell'Istituto Italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente. 49 (2): 250–259. JSTOR 40760883.
  8. James, Adeola (1990), In Their Own Voices: African Women Writers Talk, London: J. Currey, p. 123
  9. Osaki, Lillian Temu (1 January 2003). "African children's literature: a scholar's guide". University of Dar Es Salaam Library Journal. 5 (1): 67–79. doi:10.4314/udslj.v5i1.26595. ISSN 0856-1818.
  10. "Literary lioness Asenath Bole Odaga closes her chapter at 83". Business Daily. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  11. Sigei, Julius (1 June 2013). "Are these Kenya's finest writers?". Daily Nation.
  12. Owuor, Yvonne Adhiambo (29 November 2013). "Women who inspired my writing". The EastAfrican. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  13. Odaga, Asenath (2005). Dholuo-English Dictionary. Lake Publishers & Enterprises.
  14. Odaga, Asenath (1971). The Villager's Son. Lake Publishers & Enterprises. ISBN 978-0-435-92501-7.
  15. Odaga, Asenath (1980). Thu Tinda: Stories from Kenya. Uzima Press.
  16. Odaga, Asenath (1983). Ogilo nungo piny kirom. East African Publishers.
  17. Odaga, Asenath (1966). The Secret of the Monkey Rock. Nelson.
  18. Odaga, Asenath (1994). Luo Sayings. Lake Publishers & Enterprises Limited.
  19. Odaga, Asenath (2001). Something for Nothing. Lake Publishers and Enterprises. ISBN 978-9966-847-86-7.
  20. Odaga, Asenath (2003). Mogen jabare. Lake Publishers & Enterprises. ISBN 978-9966-847-87-4.
  21. Odaga, Asenath (2004). Nyangi gi Otis. Lake Publishers & Enterprises. ISBN 978-9966-847-93-5.
  22. "Asenath Bole Odaga". Literary Map of Africa. Ohio State University Libraries. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
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