• Latest
Kabaji: How can you teach writing if you don’t write?

Kabaji: How can you teach writing if you don’t write?

January 7, 2023

Veteran political activist Ingrid Turinawe says she will honor PFF leadership as she picks expression forms for Rukungiri municipality MP seat

June 30, 2025
FDC Raises Concerns Over Academic Document Verification Directive

FDC Raises Concerns Over Academic Document Verification Directive

June 30, 2025
VINAStech Advert

Implications of Aiding or Abetting a Tax Offense In Uganda

June 30, 2025

Cryptocurrency And The Shadow Economy: Facilitators of Illicit Financial Flows In Uganda

June 30, 2025

DNA Results Reveal Only Four of Nine Children Were Fathered by Late Ssegirinya

June 30, 2025

NSPC Staff Cleans Usafi Market

June 29, 2025
Great Afrikan Radio Claire Chopper Dies at 52

Great Afrikan Radio Claire Chopper Dies at 52

June 29, 2025
Mother beheads 7-year-old daughter in Entebbe

Mother beheads 7-year-old daughter in Entebbe

June 28, 2025
Nkwene Withdraws From Ruhinda North Race, Backs Deputy Speaker Tayebwa

Bribe Allegations Baseless, Says Nkwene After Dropping Out of Ruhinda North Race

June 27, 2025

Fire Engulfs Late Ssemogerere’s Residence in Kabusu

June 27, 2025
EU forest partnership funds should also focus on restoring the degraded parts of Bugoma forest reserve

EU forest partnership funds should also focus on restoring the degraded parts of Bugoma forest reserve

June 27, 2025
PFF Denies Claims of Besigye’s Sole Candidacy

Over 100 pick PFF nomination forms

June 27, 2025
  • About Us
  • Internship
  • Contact Us
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Parrots Media
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • News
    FDC Raises Concerns Over Academic Document Verification Directive

    FDC Raises Concerns Over Academic Document Verification Directive

    DNA Results Reveal Only Four of Nine Children Were Fathered by Late Ssegirinya

    NSPC Staff Cleans Usafi Market

    Mother beheads 7-year-old daughter in Entebbe

    Mother beheads 7-year-old daughter in Entebbe

    PFF Denies Claims of Besigye’s Sole Candidacy

    Over 100 pick PFF nomination forms

    CBS Journalist Jimmy Ssekabito Dies in Lubaga Hospital

    Trending Tags

  • Climate Change
  • Business
  • Science and Technology
  • Sports and Entertainment
  • Business
  • Others
    • Education
    • Lifestyle
    • Religion
    • Opinions
  • News
    FDC Raises Concerns Over Academic Document Verification Directive

    FDC Raises Concerns Over Academic Document Verification Directive

    DNA Results Reveal Only Four of Nine Children Were Fathered by Late Ssegirinya

    NSPC Staff Cleans Usafi Market

    Mother beheads 7-year-old daughter in Entebbe

    Mother beheads 7-year-old daughter in Entebbe

    PFF Denies Claims of Besigye’s Sole Candidacy

    Over 100 pick PFF nomination forms

    CBS Journalist Jimmy Ssekabito Dies in Lubaga Hospital

    Trending Tags

  • Climate Change
  • Business
  • Science and Technology
  • Sports and Entertainment
  • Business
  • Others
    • Education
    • Lifestyle
    • Religion
    • Opinions
No Result
View All Result
Parrots Media
No Result
View All Result
Home FEATURES

Kabaji: How can you teach writing if you don’t write?

Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu by Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu
January 7, 2023
in FEATURES
0
Kabaji: How can you teach writing if you don’t write?

Prof Egara Kabaji speaks during an interview in Eldoret in May 2020. Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on X

By Oumah Otienoh,

Prof. Egara Kabaji is a literary gentle giant and is best remembered for such epic radio and TV shows as ‘Books and Bookmen’ and ‘Culture Talk’.

READ ALSO

The Unsung Burden of HR Managers in Troubled Workplaces

Ayoub Hamad Lesso: The Muslim Student from Tanzania Who Won Hearts at the Uganda Martyrs Essay Writing Competition

I first interacted with Prof Kabaji through his books, which include When the Dead Met the Living and Jomo Kenyatta: Father of Harambee. Thereafter, I got absorbed in his works and closely followed him in the Literary Discourse pages of the Saturday Nation, where he co-hosted the Writer’s Clinic with John Mwazemba.

Though we’ve in the past shared pleasantries on literary matters, it was at the launch of Francis Imbuga’s memoir, The Cherished Footprints, in 2019 at Kenyatta University, that I came up close with the literary doyen.

Ngugi wa Thion
Literature student
“Professor, our Saturday Nation literary enthusiasts have been pestering me for a literary sit-down with you,” I said to him.

“Let’s fix a date for the sit-down,” he offered.

He later sent me a single music rendition he had penned in his native language – Maragoli.

“This is my first solo ever written and performed in my father-tongue,” he texted.

I later rang him and we met the following day at the Nairobi National Museum.

Children’s Literature
“First things first, where did your love affair with children’s literature start as you’ve published more than 30 works of fiction under this genre?” I posit.

“I have experimented with almost all the genres of literature. I have written poetry not only for children but also for adults,” he explained. “I got fascinated with children’s literature for a number of reasons. First, I have an innate ability to visualise things in a certain peculiar way, which is common with youngsters. If we were to develop a reading culture as a country, our main focus should shift to children. It’s also my responsibility to inculcate morals in our minors through my writings.”

“And still on children’s literature, Ezekiel Alembi; did he in any way persuade you to write for this cohort?” I inquire.

“Alembi is my literary contemporary. We started writing as undergraduates and continued during our postgraduate days.”

I interrupt him and ask, “Who sharpened whom?”

“We inspired each other with our writings. We would critique each other’s manuscripts as both of us were passionate about children literature,” he adds.

“In your book, The Crying Stone, you’re so passionate about Kaliyesa, the greatest woman who ever lived among the Maragoli of Western Kenya. Do you believe in myths?”

“The myth talked about in the book is not societal but my creation. I created the character of Kaliyesa to carry the aspiration of women not to be oppressed by their male counterparts. Myths are a vital component of any morally upright society as they define our values and worldview.”

“During Francis Imbuga’s biography’s launch, your demeanour was that of one who lost a bosom friend. When did your friendship with Imbuga begin?” I further probe.

“Imbuga discovered me as an undergraduate student. I had just read Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Decolonising the Mind and the literary fire directed me to translate Imbuga’s play, Betrayal in the City to Maragoli. When I presented to him the manuscript, he marvelled. We later drove to his residence at Kahawa Wendani, a few miles from Kenyatta University’s Main Campus, where he taught, to celebrate the draft.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Our friendship grew in leaps and bounds. When he moved to Kigali Institute of Education in Rwanda, I accompanied him. Imbuga had a way of making one work extremely hard. Upon leaving Kigali after two years, I had 20 complete manuscripts. This launched me into the mucky world of writing,” he adds.

“Talking about Imbuga, between him and John Ruganda, who’s your biggest East African playwright?” I posed.

“Francis Imbuga is so far the greatest playwright Eastern and Central Africa has ever produced. Ruganda comes close after him. Look at the volume of writings he’s created. In fact, he went beyond one genre and even wrote epic stories for children.”

Literary voices
He continues, “If you long to read a good story, pick The Miracle of Remera, a novel he wrote during our stay in Kigali. Tell me, which work of Ruganda can rival Imbuga’s Betrayal in the City?”

“We only hear a few robust literary voices from the University of Nairobi, Moi University and your voice from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in our newspapers. Why the deafening silence from other ‘vibrant’ literature departments?” I probe further.

He responds: “We have killed writing at our universities. If one teaches feature or opinion writing without scripting any feature story, I wouldn’t trust such a don with my son. Let me ask you, how do you teach creative writing without ever penning any work of art?”

He adds, “As a university professor, I have the noble task of being a gatekeeper of academic standards and allowing such tutors to lecture in our literature departments would be suicidal.”

Asked what makes him stand out in the literary field, he says: “I’m the Vice President of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA). We’re based in Accra, Ghana. As a penman, I fully make use of my God-given ability to contribute to literature through the pen. I’ve penned more than 30 children’s books and I’m currently working on close to 10 manuscripts.

“I term this decade a season of harvest as I have already submitted several manuscripts to different publishers for scrutiny. As an association of Kenyan writers, we’re also at the homestretch of publishing an anthology of short stories.”

“What’s the place of residencies in writing?” I press on.

“Lack of residencies tells it all. We have little interest in creative writing. Our universities, especially the literature departments, should create writing internships to nurture creative writing amongst the populace.”

To the budding writers, he says:“Writing is not an easy task. You can never be a good writer if you don’t write daily. It’s laughable that some only write one draft and expect that it’ll get the publisher’s nod. Up-and-coming writers shouldn’t also be in a quick chase for the shilling. Let them write first without thinking about money.”

The writer is the author of Rotten Apples, a play. oumahotienoh2009@yahoo.com

SOURCE: DAILY NATION

Tags: Children's literatureNgugi was ThiongioProf Egara KabajiTeaching writing

Related Posts

The Unsung Burden of HR Managers in Troubled Workplaces
FEATURES

The Unsung Burden of HR Managers in Troubled Workplaces

June 20, 2025
FEATURES

Ayoub Hamad Lesso: The Muslim Student from Tanzania Who Won Hearts at the Uganda Martyrs Essay Writing Competition

June 5, 2025
Entertainment

A Night of Jazz, Soul, and Style at the dfcu Jazz in the Pearl Festival

May 11, 2025
Empowering Women: Bridging Legal Rights with Economic Access in Uganda
FEATURES

Empowering Women: Bridging Legal Rights with Economic Access in Uganda

March 8, 2025
Honoring Janani Luwum’s Legacy Amidst Modern Struggles
FEATURES

Honoring Janani Luwum’s Legacy Amidst Modern Struggles

February 16, 2025
FEATURES

Oboth Oboth: A Rising Force in Uganda’s Political Landscape

January 21, 2025
Next Post

Mitooma: RDC calls for NRM manifesto implementation and participation in gov't programmes

POPULAR NEWS

Catholic Priest Speaks Out Against Museveni and Son’s Leadership

Catholic Priest Speaks Out Against Museveni and Son’s Leadership

February 16, 2025

Former IGP Okoth Ogola Dies

February 14, 2025

A Love Beyond Distance: A review of Leonard Kamugisha Akida’s poetic tribute on valentine’s day

February 14, 2025

Besigye Sends Easter Message from Luzira Prison as Archbishop Kazimba Urges for Release of Political Prisoners

April 18, 2025
Brutality at KIU: Students Assaulted by Officials at Examination Hall

KIU Loses Bid to Block Payment of Shillings 46.8 Billion to Housing Finance Bank

March 12, 2025

EDITOR'S PICK

Government commited to support Private Universities

Government commited to support Private Universities

November 12, 2022
Two Dead, Several Injured in Katosi-Nyenga Road Accident

Two Dead, Several Injured in Katosi-Nyenga Road Accident

December 27, 2024
DP calls for regional cooperation to combat terrorism

DP calls for regional cooperation to combat terrorism

November 17, 2021
UNEB Releases 2022 PLE Results

PLE Results Out Today

January 25, 2024
VINAStech advert VINAStech advert VINAStech advert
ADVERTISEMENT

About

Parrots Media

A Public Relations and Media Services Company registered and licensed to operate in Uganda and the Great Lakes Region.

Follow us

Categories

  • Business
  • BUSINESS REPORTS
  • CLIMATE ACTION REPORTS
  • Climate Change
  • COMMUNITY REPORTS
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • FEATURES
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • News
  • Obituary
  • OBITUARY
  • Opinions
  • RELIGION
  • Religion
  • Science and Technology
  • Sports
  • Sports and Entertainment
  • TOURISM

Recent Updates

  • Veteran political activist Ingrid Turinawe says she will honor PFF leadership as she picks expression forms for Rukungiri municipality MP seat
  • FDC Raises Concerns Over Academic Document Verification Directive
  • Implications of Aiding or Abetting a Tax Offense In Uganda
  • Cryptocurrency And The Shadow Economy: Facilitators of Illicit Financial Flows In Uganda
July 2025
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Jun    
  • About Us
  • Internship
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Parrots Media | Website Designed and Maintained by VINAStech

No Result
View All Result
  • Parrots Media
  • News
  • Business
  • Science and Technology
  • Sports and Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Others
    • Climate Change
    • Education
    • Religion
    • Opinions

© 2025 Parrots Media | Website Designed and Maintained by VINAStech

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

You cannot copy content of this page