Margaret Ogola facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Atieno Ogola
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Ogola circa 1998
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| Born |
Margaret Atieno Odongo
12 June 1958 Asembo, Kenya
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| Died | 21 September 2011 (aged 53) |
| Nationality | Kenya |
| Awards | Familias Award for Humanitarian Service Commonwealth Writers' Prize |
Margaret Atieno Ogola (born June 12, 1958 – died September 21, 2011) was a famous Kenyan writer. She wrote important novels like The River and the Source and I Swear by Apollo. The River and the Source tells the story of four generations of Kenyan women as their country changes over time. This book was a required reading for many years in Kenyan schools for the KCSE exam. It also won the 1995 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for the best first book from the Africa region. Margaret Ogola finished her last book, Mandate of the People, before she passed away. It was published after her death. She also received the Familias Award for Humanitarian Service from the World Congress of Families.
Besides being a writer, Margaret Ogola was also a doctor who specialized in children's health (a paediatrician). She was the medical director of Cottolengo Hospice, which was a special place for children orphaned by HIV and AIDS.
Life and Education
Margaret Ogola went to Thompson's Falls High School and was the top student there. She also studied at Alliance Girls High School. She earned her first degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Nairobi in 1984.
After finishing her studies, she worked as a medical officer at Kenyatta National Hospital. In 1990, she earned her master's degree in children's health (Paediatrics) from the University of Nairobi. She also got a special diploma in planning and managing development projects from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in 2004. She advised Kenyan Catholic bishops on family and health matters. She was also a member of Opus Dei, a Catholic organization.
Margaret Ogola received treatment for cancer. She was married to Dr. George Ogola. They had four children and also cared for two foster children.
Her Work
Margaret Ogola was a children's doctor (paediatrician) in Nairobi. She was also the medical director of Cottolengo Hospice, which helped children orphaned by HIV and AIDS. She was very interested in helping women become stronger and more independent. She was also the vice-president of Family Life Counselling in Kenya.
From 1998 to 2002, she was the National Executive Secretary for the Commission for Health & Family Life of the Kenya Episcopal Conference.
Between 2002 and 2004, she was the Country Coordinator for the "Hope for African Children Initiative." This was a partnership of many international groups like Plan, CARE, Save the Children, and World Vision. Their main goal was to help African communities support children affected by HIV/AIDS and prevent the spread of HIV.
She also helped start and manage the SOS HIV/AIDS Clinic from 2004 to 2005. This clinic helped people living with HIV/AIDS. It offered testing, medical checks, treatment, and food support to about 1000 people from nearby poor areas, including women, men, and children.
She was also the National Executive Secretary for the Commission for Health & Family Life at the Catholic Secretariat again. This commission coordinates over 500 Catholic health centers and community programs across Kenya. These centers help more than 5 million people every year.
Dr. Ogola was chosen to be a member of the National Council for Children Services.
In 1999, she received the Familias Award for Humanitarian Service from the World Congress of Families in Geneva, Switzerland.
Her Books
Margaret Ogola wrote three novels, a biography, and a handbook for parents.
- The River and the Source: This novel is a required reading book in Kenyan schools. It won the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature in 1995 and the 1995 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book in Africa. It has been translated into Italian, Lithuanian, and Spanish. The book shows how the lives of four generations of Kenyan women changed over time.
- I Swear by Apollo: This novel looks at questions about medical rules and what it means to truly be yourself.
- A Biography: A Gift of Grace: This book tells the life story of Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga (1923–2003). He was the first Catholic bishop, archbishop, and cardinal in Kenya.
- Place of Destiny: This novel is about a woman who is dying of cancer. It also tells the story of a former street child who becomes recognized, and it explores issues of poverty. This book also won the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature.
About her first novel, The River and the Source, Margaret Ogola said:
"The idea for this book came from my mother. She shared with me the wisdom and stories of her own mother and grandmother. The strength and support found in the African family is the most important part of our culture. We should protect and care for it at all costs."
Tom Odhiambo, who studied The River and the Source, wrote:
The many female characters in the book, who represent different times in Kenya's history, show a type of womanhood in modern Kenya that has its own power and identity. These characters rewrite the role that women have been given in Kenya's national story after colonial rule. Ogola's book aims to show Kenyan women as able to tell their own stories and claim their rightful place and identity in the wider national life.
Important Quote
"Unless we understand that every person is unique and valuable just because they are human, we cannot begin to talk about human rights. This includes the right to be born, which all of us have enjoyed. True justice should mean that every human being, whether visible or invisible, young or old, disabled or able, can fully enjoy their right to life. Things we happen to have, like our skin color, how much money we have, or if we have a physical or mental disability, should not be used as an excuse to take away a person's life."
This quote is from a speech she gave titled: "On the Dignity of the African Woman"
Tribute
On June 12, 2019, which would have been Margaret Ogola's 60th birthday, she was honored with a Google Doodle.
See also
In Spanish: Margaret Ogola para niños
