Asenath Bole Odaga
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Short description|Kenyan publisher and author (1938–2014)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Asenath Bole Odaga
| image = Photo of Asenath Bole Odaga.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date |1938|7|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Rarieda, Kenya
| death_date = {{death date and age|2014|12|1|1937|7|5|df=y}}
| death_place = Kisumu, Kenya
| occupation = Author, publisher
| education = Alliance Girls High School
| alma_mater = University of Nairobi
| spouse =
| parents = Blasto Akumu Aum and Patricia Abuya Abok
| children =
| website = {{url|https://www.asenathboleodaga.com/her-story}}
}}
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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sde.co.ke/article/2000143792/asenath-odaga-matriach-who-bequeathed-us-rich-literature-and-sense-of-belongin|title=Asenath Odaga: Matriach who bequeathed us rich literature and sense of belonging|last=Ndago-Kabira|first=Abnea|work=Kenya Standard Digital / SDE.CO.KE|access-date=2015-05-28|archive-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114141514/https://www.sde.co.ke/article/2000143792/asenath-odaga-matriach-who-bequeathed-us-rich-literature-and-sense-of-belongin|url-status=dead}}{{cite journal|last1=Amuka|first1=Peter|date=1985|title=Oral Literature: A School Certificate Course (Book Review|jstor=3819137|journal=Research in African Literatures|volume=16|issue=3|pages=430–31}}
Biography
Born in Rarieda, Kenya, on 5 July 1938,1937 is the birth year given on the Asenath Bole Odaga website (https://www.asenathboleodaga.com/her-story), although 1937 is cited by others. Asenath Bole Odaga was educated at Alliance Girls High School and University of Nairobi.*{{cite web |url=http://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/weekend/Storyteller-Asenath-Odaga-takes-her-last-bow/-/1220/2546000/-/15editn/-/index.html|title=A tribute to Asenath Bole Odaga: The queen of folklore |last=Aduda |first=David |date=December 6, 2014 |website=Daily Nation |access-date=May 28, 2015}} 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.{{cite book|last1=Odaga|first1=Asenath Bole|title=Educational Value of "Sigendeni Luo": The Kenya Luo Oral Narratives|date=1980|publisher=University of Nairobi|url=http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/11295/23996/Odaga_Educational%20Values%20Of%20Sigendini%20%20Luo%3b%20Kenya%20Narratives.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y|accessdate=February 2, 2018}}
In 1982, Odaga founded Lake Publishers, becoming the first female publisher in Kenya. She would later open the Thu-Thinda bookstore in Kisumu.{{Cite news|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/evewoman/article/2001261237/asenath-odaga-the-unsung-literature-guru|title=Asenath Bole Odaga :The queen of folklore|last=Kabale|first=Nasibo|date=November 17, 2017|work=Evewoman (Kenya Standard)|access-date=July 10, 2018}} She founded the Kenya Women Literature Group in 1986, with the intention of developing works in Kenyan languages by and for women.{{Cite journal|last=Pugliese|first=Cristiana|title=Kenyan Publishers in Vernacular Languages: Gikuyu, Kikamba and Dholuo |date=1994|journal=Africa: Rivista Trimestrale di Studi e Documentazione dell'Istituto Italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente |volume=49|issue=2|pages=250–259|jstor=40760883}}
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"{{Citation |last=James |first=Adeola |year=1990 |title=In Their Own Voices: African Women Writers Talk |publisher=J. Currey |publication-place=London |page=123 }} These stories often focus on the daily life of children.{{Cite journal|last=Osaki|first=Lillian Temu|date=January 1, 2003|title=African children's literature: a scholar's guide|url=https://www.ajol.info/index.php/udslj/article/view/26595|journal=University of Dar Es Salaam Library Journal|volume=5|issue=1|pages=67–79|doi=10.4314/udslj.v5i1.26595|issn=0856-1818|doi-access=free}}
Asenath Bole Odaga died in Kisumu on 1 December 2014.{{Cite news|url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Literary-lioness-Asenath-Bole-Odaga-closes-her-chapter-at-83-/-/539444/2544928/-/qqdexn/-/index.html|title=Literary lioness Asenath Bole Odaga closes her chapter at 83|work=Business Daily|date=4 December 2014|access-date=2018-11-14|language=en-UK}}
=Legacy=
Odaga was listed by the Daily Nation as one of the writers having the most impact on Kenyan society.{{cite web |url=http://www.nation.co.ke/Features/weekend/Are-these-Kenyas-finest-writers/-/1220/1868988/-/kdxbh1z/-/index.html |title=Are these Kenya's finest writers?|last=Sigei |first=Julius |date=June 1, 2013 |website=Daily Nation}} Her work has been cited as an influence on Kenyan novelist Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor.{{cite web |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/magazine/Women-who-inspired-my-writing/-/434746/2093432/-/q1n22l/-/index.html|title=Women who inspired my writing|last=Owuor |first=Yvonne Adhiambo |date=November 29, 2013 |website=The EastAfrican |access-date=May 29, 2015}}
Published works
- English—Dholuo Dictionary{{Cite book |last=Odaga |first=Asenath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1p0aAQAAIAAJ&dq=English--Dholuo+Dictionary%5B+by+Asenath+Bole+Odaga&pg=PR5 |title=Dholuo-English Dictionary |date=2005 |publisher=Lake Publishers & Enterprises |language=en}}
- The Villager's Son (1971){{Cite book |last=Odaga |first=Asenath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_bApOgAACAAJ&q=The+Villager's+Son+by+asenath |title=The Villager's Son |date=1971 |publisher=Lake Publishers & Enterprises |isbn=978-0-435-92501-7 |language=en}}
- Thu tinda : stories from Kenya (1980){{Cite book |last=Odaga |first=Asenath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=An2BAAAAMAAJ&q=Thu+tinda%C2%A0:+stories+from+Kenya+(+by+asenath |title=Thu Tinda: Stories from Kenya |date=1980 |publisher=Uzima Press |language=en}}
- Yesterday's today : a study of oral literature (1984){{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}
- Ogilo nungo piny kirom (1983){{Cite book |last=Odaga |first=Asenath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hbebfGOBZLoC |title=Ogilo nungo piny kirom |date=1983 |publisher=East African Publishers}}
- 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){{Cite book |last=Odaga |first=Asenath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YXUlNAAACAAJ |title=The Secret of the Monkey Rock |date=1966 |publisher=Nelson |language=en}}
- 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){{Cite book |last=Odaga |first=Asenath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jD0GxwEACAAJ |title=Luo Sayings |date=1994 |publisher=Lake Publishers & Enterprises Limited |language=en}}
- Something for nothing (2001){{Cite book |last=Odaga |first=Asenath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hkwgAQAAIAAJ |title=Something for Nothing |date=2001 |publisher=Lake Publishers and Enterprises |isbn=978-9966-847-86-7 |language=en}}
- Mogen jabare (2003){{Cite book |last=Odaga |first=Asenath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=150aAQAAIAAJ |title=Mogen jabare |date=2003 |publisher=Lake Publishers & Enterprises |isbn=978-9966-847-87-4}}
- Nyangi gi Otis (2004){{Cite book |last=Odaga |first=Asenath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4p0aAQAAIAAJ |title=Nyangi gi Otis |date=2004 |publisher=Lake Publishers & Enterprises |isbn=978-9966-847-93-5}}
- The Luo oral literature and educational values of its narratives (2010){{cite web|title=Asenath Bole Odaga|url=https://library.osu.edu/literary-map-of-africa/authors/odaga-asenath-bole|website=Literary Map of Africa|publisher=Ohio State University Libraries|access-date=February 2, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.asenathboleodaga.com/ Asenath Bole Odaga website]
- [http://www.sde.co.ke/article/2000143792/asenath-odaga-matriach-who-bequeathed-us-rich-literature-and-sense-of-belonging "Asenath Odaga: Matriarch who bequeathed us rich literature and sense of belonging"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104021604/https://www.sde.co.ke/article/2000143792/asenath-odaga-matriach-who-bequeathed-us-rich-literature-and-sense-of-belonging |date=4 January 2019 }}, in sde.co.ke
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082350/http://kisumuinfo.com/asenath-odaga-passes-on-in-kisumu/ "Asenath Odaga passes on in Kisumu"] in Kisumuinfo.com
- [http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/thecounties/article/2000143298/kenyan-literary-icon-asenath-bole-odaga-dies-in-kisumu?pageNo=1 "Kenyan literary icon Asenath Bole Odaga dies in Kisumu"] by David Ohito, in Standard Media.co.ke
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Category:20th-century Kenyan businesspeople
Category:20th-century Kenyan businesswomen
Category:Alumni of Alliance Girls High School
Category:Kenyan children's writers
Category:Kenyan women children's writers
Category:Kenyan women novelists
Category:People from Siaya County