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Chira
1999 Nominated

Chira

Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye

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ABOUT
THE BOOK

When one woman dies of symptoms of a wasting disease and another confesses that she is HIV positive, the question is asked: will they be long survived by their male partners? Against the backdrop of an AIDS scourge, some men and women try to lead normal lives, but fall short of escaping the tragedies brought about by the new killer. Chira is a tale of surprises and mysteries unsolved: a tale in which science and tradition converge to examine new tragedies in life. Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye was born in Southampton, England, in 1928 and moved to Kenya in 1954. She has published several novels and a collection of poetry will be published shortly.

Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Marjorie
Oludhe Macgoye

Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye: The Mother of Kenyan Literature
Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye (1928–2015) is remembered as one of Kenya’s greatest literary voices. Born in Southampton, England, she came to Kenya in 1954 as a missionary bookseller and later married Daniel Oludhe Macgoye, a medical doctor from Gem, Siaya.
She fully embraced Kenyan life, becoming a citizen and weaving her experiences into unforgettable stories.
Her most celebrated novel, Coming to Birth (1986), won the Sinclair Prize for fiction. It follows the life of Paulina, a young woman navigating personal struggles against the backdrop of Kenya’s transition from colonial rule to independence.
Through Paulina’s story, Macgoye highlighted the resilience of Kenyan women and the pains of nation-building.
Beyond Coming to Birth, she wrote powerful works such as The Present Moment (set in a Nairobi home for retired freedom fighters), Homing In (about life in Eastleigh, Nairobi), and Street Life (spotlighting the struggles of street children).
She also wrote poetry, children’s books, and social commentaries, always giving voice to women, the marginalized, and the ordinary Kenyan.
For her immense contribution, she was honored as the “Mother of Kenyan Literature.” Through her pen, Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye preserved history, amplified women’s voices, and left behind stories that remain relevant and deeply Kenyan.
Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye: The Mother of Kenyan Literature
Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye (1928–2015) is remembered as one of Kenya’s greatest literary voices. Born in Southampton, England, she came to Kenya in 1954 as a missionary bookseller and later married Daniel Oludhe Macgoye, a medical doctor from Gem, Siaya.
She fully embraced Kenyan life, becoming a citizen and weaving her experiences into unforgettable stories.
Her most celebrated novel, Coming to Birth (1986), won the Sinclair Prize for fiction. It follows the life of Paulina, a young woman navigating personal struggles against the backdrop of Kenya’s transition from colonial rule to independence.
Through Paulina’s story, Macgoye highlighted the resilience of Kenyan women and the pains of nation-building.
Beyond Coming to Birth, she wrote powerful works such as The Present Moment (set in a Nairobi home for retired freedom fighters), Homing In (about life in Eastleigh, Nairobi), and Street Life (spotlighting the struggles of street children).
She also wrote poetry, children’s books, and social commentaries, always giving voice to women, the marginalized, and the ordinary Kenyan.
For her immense contribution, she was honored as the “Mother of Kenyan Literature.” Through her pen, Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye preserved history, amplified women’s voices, and left behind stories that remain relevant and deeply Kenyan.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country
Kenya
Author
Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye
Publisher
East African Educational Publishers Ltd
Nominating Library
Kenya National Library Service - Kenya

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