Binyavanga Wainaina: Remembering a trail-blazing Kenyan legend | The Stream
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- Опубліковано 18 жов 2024
- Three years after his death, Kenyan literary icon Binyavanga Wainaina continues to challenge stereotypes and prejudice about Africa through his writings. Wainaina, who died in 2019 at age 48 after a short illness, first won acclaim when his autobiographical novella “Discovering Home” was awarded the 2002 Caine Prize. He is also lauded for his 2012 memoir, “One Day I Will Write About This Place.”
But his most well-known work is the 2005 “How to Write About Africa,” which was re-published last month by Hamish Hamilton. The satirical collection of essays skewers Western media coverage of African issues, reminding readers that the story of the continent is not a singular one - a message that continues to resonate today.
In 2014, Wainaina made waves again after publishing a “lost chapter” from his memoir in which he came out as a gay man. In an essay called “I am a homosexual, mum,” he imagined telling his late mother on her deathbed about his struggles with his identity. That same year, Wainaina was named one of Time magazine’s “100 most influential people in the world" for his LGBT activism amid Kenya's crackdown on homosexuality.
In this episode of The Stream, we'll discuss Wainaina's trail-blazing life, LGBT activism and literary legacy.
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First time hearing about Binyavanga but the way people talk about him and how moved they are by him years after his death speaks volumes.
Trust me it doesn't. He was a controversial figure in our country. That's why not so many people from Kenya are not talking about him in the comment section. There is something they are not telling the world about him, something we consider very shameful and we don't encourage in our country.
@@BeHonorable244 His role in exploding open the African ;literary space is a powerful and undeniable legacy. About the things of shame to which you allude, no human is perfect. Every one of us tries to make life mean and matter in the way that aligns with our spirits. We may get so much wrong, but that does not destroy the good we also do, the love we extend, and the lives our work and efforts improve. Binya secured his legacy because in his generosity, and he opened big doors for tens of thousands of people worldwide, and he could because he loved people.
@@utamakurautamakura7435 Well put.
always enjoy this show. especially when it features kenyans!
His opening words are so true
Couldn’t agree more with the opening
God bless his soul ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Trailblazing of destruction....
Ooh goodness never heard of him 😳
Let His Soul Rest In Peace!
His application of thought would do well if written into Haitian Creole. Kréyol. Not that Haitians have a list sense of destiny, but only to re-emphasise the need of any nation to remain true to its original purpose of revolution, and the congealed respect that should endure for the common well-being of the birthed culture of law and order in that constitution.
Unfortunately for today's 12,000,000 Haitians eeking their survival upon the 10,516 square miles of territory, the corruption of almost all facets of the documents of Law & Order has rendered the country to a never foreseen status of absolute failure.
This Oct 2022 may bring some support from the Internationals however such efforts, and conivings, have failed miserably in the past.
All of this because of men and women citizens who were and are willing to set aside respect for individuals as well as their very own country and Nation.
Kenya might be a very adept teacher as to how to do it right?
Shikata ga nai (仕方がない)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركة
لماذا تتمنى السلام والبركات والرحمة لمثل هذا الرجل الذي كان مثليًا؟ إذا كنت تمارس الإسلام لعلم أننا لا نتمنى السلام والرحمة لمثل هؤلاء الأفراد. يجب أن تخجل من نفسك
Si nou paka pale kreyòl sa, nou kap chaché moyen sa pou korijé jan moun kon pansé nan payéAyiti?
hahaha komik men kesyon ou an serye. Li fè m reflechi.
useless topic
Who asked you?
Useless comment
You know you have the power to do something else, like count your toes.
Ngari, tomorrow we'll be discussing your legacy, and it'll be important
Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion.