Goretti Kyomuhendo

Goretti Kyomuhendo

Goretti Kyomuhendo, born Maria Goretti Kyomuhendo on August 1, 1965, is a novelist from Hoima, Western Uganda.^[1] A participant at the inaugural International Literature Festival Berlin in 2001, Kyomuhendo has been recognized for her “internationally renowned novels.”^[2] She has also earned notice in the African literary circles for her service from 1997–2007 as the Programs Coordinator for FEMRITE—Uganda Women Writers Association,^[3] and her founding of African Writers Trust in 2009.^[4][5]

Education

Kyomuhendo obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) English Studies (2003), University of Natal, Durban, South Africa, and Masters of Arts in Creative Writing (2005), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.^[1] In 2003, Kyomuhendo was awarded a Graduate Scholarship for academic excellence by the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.^[6] Kyomuhendo was the first Ugandan woman writer to be awarded Honorary Fellow in Writing at the University of Iowa, 1997, after participating in the International Writing Program of Iowa.^[6]

Critical Reception

Kyomuhendo’s first novel The First Daughter (1996) was well-received in Uganda, earning some regional (East African) attention as well. Her second novel Secrets No More (1999) won the National Book Trust of Uganda Award for 1999.^[6][7]

Kyomuhendo’s third novel, Waiting: A Novel of Uganda's Hidden War, has garnered the most international recognition to date.^[2] Publishers Weekly described Waiting as “a sensitive, slowly unravelling observation of daily life in a remote Ugandan village as Amin’s marauding soldiers approach on their retreat north.” ^[8] A reviewer for Book Loons praised Waiting as “a complex and disturbing story told with almost a touch of sweetness to it, through the eyes of a young girl forced to grow up before her time.” ^[9] Kirkus Reviews,^[10] The New Statesman,^[11] Pambazuka News,^[12] and the Mail & Guardian Online (South Africa)^[7] among others also provided favorable notice.

In additional to the published reviews of Waiting, the Poetry Café in Covent Garden, London featured Kyomuhendo reading a selection from Waiting for African Writer’s Evening in March 2009.^[13]

Kyomuhendo’s first graphic novel Sara and the Boy Soldier (2001), written for UNICEF-ESARO about child soldiers in Africa, received a middling review by GoodReads.^[14] Kyomuhendo has written a number of children’s books and stories,^[6][15] but these have not been widely reviewed as of yet.

Service with FEMRITE - Uganda Women Writers Association

As Program Coordinator for FEMRITE from 1997 to 2007,^[4] Kyomuhendo has been cited by some younger FEMRITE members as being instrumental in their development and success. Ayeta Anne Wangusa, in an interview with Peter Nazareth of Iowa University, affectionately remembers Kyomuhendo as “a tough lady” who would not take no for an answer until she got Wangusa’s first novel Memoirs of a Mother (1998) published.^[16] Mildred Barya, who joined FEMRITE in 1997 and later won the Ugandan National Book Trust Award in 2002 for her poetry collection Men Love Chocolates But They Don't Say (2002), has claimed: ”from her (Kyomuhendo), I did not only acquire knowledge in publishing dynamics, but my writing improved, my poetry soared to the skies, I was set free, so I flew. “^[17]

While serving as Program Coordinator, Kyomuhendo was joined by another and already established Ugandan author, Violet Barungi, who served as the FEMRITE editor from 1997–2007.^[18] During the Kyomuhendo/Barungi period of service from 1997–2007, FEMRITE members Doreen Baingana and Monica Arac de Nyeko would be nominated for the Caine Prize, with Monica Arac de Nyeko eventually winning the award in 2007. Additionally, other FEMRITE members during this time were shortlisted for or won various other prestigious literary awards.^[19]

Regarding FEMRITE in general during the period when Kyomuhendo was Program Coordinator, Monica Arac de Nyeko in her 2007 interview with the BBC declared: "FEMRITE has definitely had a positive impact on the Ugandan literary scene, particularly in forging a space for women’s voices to be heard. Perhaps as recently as the mid nineties there was a clear absence of women’s writing. FEMRITE came in, stormed the writing scene and is now a remarkable addition to our literary landscape."^[20]

Based upon both Kyomuhendo's FEMRITE service and published works as of 2009, the USA-based UTNE Reader nominated Kyomuhendo as one of "50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World" while describing FEMRITE as a "dynamic association for indigenous female writers."^[21]

Founding and Directorship of African Writers Trust

In 2009 Kyomuhendo founded African Writers Trust in an effort to “coordinate and bring together African writers in the Diaspora and writers on the continent to promote sharing of skills and other resources, and to foster knowledge and learning between the two groups.” ^[4][22] Kyomuhendo has since served as the Director, joined by the following African writers as Advisory Board members: Zakes Mda, Susan Nalugwa Kiguli, Aminatta Forna, Mildred Barya, Helon Habila, and Ayeta Anne Wangusa.^[15] Although the Advisory Board includes members from various nations and regions in African, African Writers Trust as of 2011 is primarily operational in Uganda and headquartered in London.^[4]

The activities of African Writers Trust under Kyomuhendo have included writing workshops and conferences, with these receiving favorable attention from African journalists – albeit so far primarily from East African journalists.^[4][23]

Published Fiction

• The First Daughter. Fountain Pub Ltd. Kampala, 1996. (ISBN 978-9970021192)
• Secrets No More. FEMRITE Publications Ltd, Kampala, 1999. (ISBN 978-9970901050)
• Sara and the Boy Soldier. (Graphic novel). Maskew Miller Longman, S.Africa. 2001. (ISBN 978-0636048157)
• Waiting: A Novel of Uganda's Hidden War. The Feminist Press. New York, 2007. (ISBN 978-1558615397)
• Justus Saves His Uncle. (Children’s book). Macmillan Publishers, UK. 2008. (ISBN 978-0-230-53319-6)
• A Chance to Survive. (Children’s book). Macmillan Publishers, UK. 2008. (ISBN 978-0-230-53312-7)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Goretti Kyomuhendo." CultureBase.Net: The International Artist Database. April 28, 2005. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://www.culturebase.net/artist.php?3582
2. ^ ^{a b} Torberg, Peter. "Goretti Kyomuhendo (Uganda)." Internationales Literaturfestival Berlin. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://www.literaturfestival.com/participants/authors/2001/goretti-kyomuhendo
3. ^ Kyomuhendo, Goretti. "Profile: FEMRITE and the Politics of Literature in Uganda." Feminist Africa. 2003. vol 2. Retrieved August 30, 2011 from http://www.feministafrica.org/index.php/femrite
4. ^ ^{a b c d e} Lamwaka, Beatrice. "Goretti Kyomuhendo of African Writers Trust." AfroLit. May 22, 2011 Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://afrolit.com/goretti-kyomuhendo-of-african-writers-trust/1220/l.aspx
5. ^ Lamwaka, Beatrice. "Goretti Kyomuhendo." Mosaic: literary arts of the diaspora. December 13, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://mosaicmagazine.org/blog/2008/12/13/goretti-kyomuhendo/
6. ^ ^{a b c d} "Conference 2010: 'Africa: Cultural Translations'." Lancaster University African Studies Group. May 22, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://www.transculturalwriting.com/Content/african_studies_goretti.html
7. ^ ^{a b} Smith, David L. "Rich pickings in Uganda." Mail & Guardian Online. Apr 29, 2011. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://mg.co.za/article/2011-04-29-rich-pickings-in-uganda
8. ^ "Waiting: A Novel of Uganda's Hidden War." Publishers Weekly. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-55861-539-7
9. ^ Smyth, Mary Ann. Waiting: A Novel of Uganda's Hidden War. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://www.bookloons.com/cgi-bin/Review.asp?bookid=11516
10. ^ "Waiting: A Novel of Uganda's Hidden War." Kirkus Reviews. March 15, 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/fiction/goretti-kyomuhendo/waiting-4/#review
11. ^ Khera, Jastinder. "When war intrudes." New Statesman. January 10, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://www.newstatesman.com/books/2008/01/goretti-kyomuhendo-waiting-war
12. ^ Barya, Mildred K. "'In the zone of waiting', by Goretti Kyomuhendo." Pambazuka News. Feb 01, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/books/45850
13. ^ Video: "Goretti Kyomuhendo @ African Writer's Evening." Poetry Cafe. Covent Garden, London. March 2009. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWSgwpDhhQA
14. ^ "LeAnne's Reviews -- Sara and the boy soldier". GoodReads. July, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/26845522
15. ^ ^{a b} "Advisory Board." African Writers Trust. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://www.africanwriterstrust.org/advisory-board
16. ^ "Interview with Peter Nazareth." Iowa University. 1998. Retrieved August 22, 2011 from http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/vwu&CISOPTR=2208&REC=7
17. ^ Musoke-Nteyafas, Jane. "Ugandan Writers: Meet Mildred Barya Kiconco." AfroLit. March 10, 2006. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://afrolit.com/ugandan-writers-meet-mildred-barya-kiconco/335/l.aspx
18. ^ Caples, LaKeisha L. "I try to highlight social issues affecting women - Violet Barungi." AfricanWriter.com. May 10, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://www.africanwriter.com/articles/508/1/I-try-to-highlight-social-issues-affecting-women---Violet-Barungi/Page1.html
19. ^ "FEMRITE Achievements and Milestones." FEMRITE - Uganda Women Writers' Association. Retrieved August 22, 2011 from http://www.femriteug.org/?view=7
20. ^ "Caine Prize Interview: Monica Arac de Nyeko." Africa Beyond: BBC. July, 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2011 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/africabeyond/africanarts/19140.shtml
21. ^ "50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World." UNTE Reader. Nov-Dec. 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2011 from http://www.utne.com/Politics/50-Visionaries-Changing-Your-World-Hope-2009.aspx
22. ^ "What is African Writers Trust?" African Writers Trust. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://www.africanwriterstrust.org
23. ^ "Blog and News.” African Writers Trust. Updated frequently. Retrieved August 24, 2011 from http://www.africanwriterstrust.org/news/