Asenath Bole Odaga facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Asenath Bole Odaga
Born	July 5, 1937 Rarieda
Died	December 1, 2014 Kisumu
Occupation	Author, Publisher
Parent(s)	Blasto Akumu Aum and Patricia Abuya Abok

Asenath Bole Odaga (born July 5, 1937 – died December 1, 2014) was a talented writer and publisher from Kenya. She wrote many different kinds of books, including novels, plays, and stories for children. She also worked hard to promote literature written in Kenyan languages, especially her native Luo language. She even helped students learn about oral literature, which are stories passed down by speaking them, not writing them.

Her Life and Work

Early Life and Education

Asenath Bole Odaga was born in a place called Rarieda, Kenya, in 1937. She went to Alliance Girls High School, which is a well-known school. Later, she studied at the University of Nairobi. There, she wrote a special paper for her Master of Arts degree. It was about the educational value of Luo oral stories.

Becoming a Publisher

In 1982, Asenath Odaga started her own company called Lake Publishers. This made her the very first female publisher in Kenya! Later, she also opened a bookstore called Thu-Thinda in Kisumu.

In 1986, she founded the Kenya Women Literature Group. Her goal was to help women write and publish books in different Kenyan languages.

Writing for Children

Asenath Odaga also loved writing books for young readers. She once said that children should have stories about their own lives and the people they know. She wanted them to read about "real African heroes" they could relate to. Her children's stories often showed the everyday lives of kids.

Asenath Bole Odaga passed away on December 1, 2014.

Her Impact

The Daily Nation newspaper listed Odaga as one of the writers who had the biggest impact on Kenyan society. Other Kenyan writers, like the novelist Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, have said that Odaga's work influenced them.

Books She Wrote

Here are some of the books Asenath Bole Odaga published:

• English--Dholuo Dictionary
• The Villager's Son (1971)
• Thu tinda : stories from Kenya (1980)
• Yesterday's today : a study of oral literature (1984)
• Ogilo nungo piny kirom (1983)
• 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)
• 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)
• Something for nothing (2001)
• Mogen jabare (2003)
• Nyangi gi Otis (2004)
• The Luo oral literature and educational values of its narratives (2010)