Who Is Binyavanga Wainaina? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Binyavanga Wainaina was born on January 18, 1971, in Nakuru, Kenya, and he made a profound impact on literature and culture before his passing on May 21, 2019. Known for his fierce advocacy for LGBTQ rights in Africa and his influential writings that explored the complexities of African identity, Wainaina was a pivotal figure in contemporary literature. He was celebrated for his acclaimed essay "How to Write About Africa," which humorously critiqued Western perspectives on African narratives.
| Occupation | Journalist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 18, 1971 |
| Age | 48 Years |
| Birth Place | Nakuru, Kenya |
| Horoscope | Capricorn |
| Country | Kenya |
| Date of death | 21 May, 2019 |
| Died Place | Nairobi, Kenya |
Popularity
Binyavanga Wainaina's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details on Binyavanga Wainaina's height and weight are not widely documented, he was known for his vibrant personality that overshadowed his physical presence. His powerful presence in words and thoughts left a lasting imprint in the literary world.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Throughout his life, Binyavanga Wainaina remained relatively private about his personal relationships. However, he was openly gay, and in his later writings, he discussed his experiences with love and relationships candidly. He remained unmarried during his life, but his works often reflected deep emotional connections and the complexities of love.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing in 2019, estimates of Binyavanga Wainaina's net worth ranged between $1 million to $2 million. His wealth was primarily derived from his successful writing career, speaking engagements, and various literary contributions. While he may not have amassed vast wealth, his cultural impact was priceless.
Career, Business and Investments
Wainaina's career spanned several decades and was marked by both critical and popular acclaim. He founded the literary magazine Kwani?, which showcased emerging African writers and played an essential role in the African literary renaissance. His works include novels, essays, and poetry that often explored themes of identity, love, and socio-political issues in Africa.
Beyond writing, Wainaina was an advocate for human rights, particularly LGBTQ rights in Africa, using his platform to speak against oppression and discrimination.
Social Network
Binyavanga Wainaina was active on various social media platforms during his lifetime, where he used channels like Twitter to engage with followers and express his views on literature, politics, and society. His Twitter account (now memorialized) served as a platform for his unyielding spirit and creative expression.
In July 2002 he won the Caine Prize for his short story "Discovering Home" (the judges being Ahdaf Soueif, Margaret Busby, Jason Cowley and Abdulrazak Gurnah). Wainaina was the founding editor of Kwani?, the literary magazine in East Africa that sprang out of an artistic revolution that started in 2002. Established in 2003, Kwani?
has since become an important source of new writing from Africa; Yvonne Owuor also wrote for the magazine and won the Caine Prize in 2003.
Education
Wainaina pursued a degree in African Studies at the University of Nairobi before furthering his education in the United States at the University of Iowa. His educational background significantly influenced his literary career and shaped his worldview, allowing him to critique cultural narratives and contribute to the discourse on African literature.
He attended Moi Primary School in Nakuru, Mangu High School in Thika, and Lenana School in Nairobi. He later studied commerce at the University of Transkei in South Africa, where he went to live in 1991. He completed an MPhil in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia in 2010.
