Mugo receives Lifetime Achievement award in African Literature

The Lifetime Achievement award in African Literature has been presented to Kenyan playwright, author, activist and poet Micere Mugo.

This year's ceremony took place at the Royal African Society’s Annual Lecture, hosted at the School of African & Oriental Studies. The 2021 award was sponsored by Penguin Random House UK.

The award pays tribute to the most influential contributors to African literature and can be given to writers, academics, publishers and translators with careers spanning 20 years or more.

Mugo, the recipient of this year’s award, said: “I am touched by the spirit behind the award, and the urgency of honouring people while they are still alive.”

The writer has been a prominent figure in African literature and human rights activism for more than 40 years. In 1982, Mugo was forced into exile from Kenya for her activism. She taught in Zimbabwe before becoming a leader of African literature in the United States, where she is now a professor of literature at Syracuse University in African American studies.

Her publications include six books, a play co-authored with Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and three monographs. Outside literature, Mugo founded the Pan African Community of Central New York and the United Women of African Organisation.

Siena Parker, social impact director at Penguin Random House UK, said how important this award is for literature: “We’re delighted to lend our support to this important lifetime achievement award as part of our broader efforts to ensure that books represent everyone.”