Marjorie Phyllis Oludhe Macgoye's 94th Birthday

Google Dooles 20.10.2022 23:53  Date: October 21, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates the life and 94th birthday of Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye, a British-born novelist and poet who came to be known as the mother of Kenyan literature. She mostly wrote about the struggles of Kenya during its post-colonial era, but also published children’s books, magazine stories and much more. Macgoye was academically gifted from an early age. Her mother was a teacher in Southampton and kept a close eye on her studies. She was awarded several scholarships in her youth and eventually attended the Royal Holloway College at the University of London for a bachelor’s degree in English. It was here that she found her love for writing through the many letters she wrote to her parents. Macgoye then went to Birkbeck College for her master’s degree in English where she specialized in poetry. Shortly after graduating, Macgoye moved to Kenya and became a citizen in 1954. This was during a time of political tension and colonial conflict. She often held literary projects that helped women learn how to read and write. Macgoye also became involved in social activism, where she gave speeches and joined national debates regarding the experiences of women. In 1983, she wholly switched her focus to writing. She wrote poems, novels, children’s books, magazine stories, scholarly essays and historical articles about life in Kenya. Her most notable works include Murder in Majengo , The Present Moment and Coming to Birth —the latter won the Sinclair Prize for fiction. Today’s mixed-medium artwork pictures Macgoye next to her books, surrounded by Kenyan scenery and the women that inspired her. Happy 94th birthday, Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye! Location: Tags: