Kuki Gallmann
Encyclopedia
Kuki Gallmann is an Italian
writer and poet. Born in Treviso
, Veneto
, she moved to Kenya
in 1972 with her husband and son and is now a Kenyan citizen. She wrote several books about her life in Africa
, all of them in English
; the best known is I Dreamed of Africa
. A movie adaptation of the book, starring Kim Basinger
, was made in 2000. She lives in Kenya with her daughter, and she manages several social, environmental and scientific projects. Her son died of a snake bite. Her husband Paolo died in a car accident.
visiting the Sahara Desert. In 1970 she visited again and fell in love with the land. She moved to Kenya with her second husband Paolo and her son Emanuele in 1972.
Between 1972 and 1980 they acquired Ol Ari Nyiro, a 100,000 acre (400 km²) cattle ranch, on the edge of the Great Rift Valley
, in Northern Kenya where they created the first ever anti poaching squad to protect the largest population of Black Rhino in Africa and large populations of elephants, buffalo and leopards. Kuki became deeply involved with conservation.
In 1980 her husband was killed in an automobile accident while bringing a crib home for their unborn baby. Three years later her 17-year old son Emanuele died of a snake bite while trying to extract viper venom for antiserum.
Kuki founded the Gallmann Memorial Foundation in honor of Paolo and Emanuele and dedicated her life to saving the environment and wildlife of Kenya.
Kuki divides her time between Ol Ari Nyiro, Nairobi
, international speaking engagements, and writing.
.
She is a Founder Member and Director of the Laikipia Wildlife Forum, the Ecotourism Society of Kenya, the Laikipia Nature Conservancy Trust and the Association of Private Land Rhino Sanctuaries; and Chairman of the Education committee of the Laikipia Wildlife Forum that aims to make African ecology part of Kenya primary school curriculum.
Gallmann is a member of the Olave Baden Powell Society, a goodwill ambassador for the African Medical Research Foundation and their Flying Doctors Outreach Program, a member of the Kenya Tourist Board Creative Committee, and the chairman of the 2001 WTM design subcommittee.
One of her major interests is creating living spaces, harmonious buildings and naturally inspired interior decoration. She personally designed and built the Mukutan Retreat on the estate and has completed Makena's Hills, an eco-tourism Health Centre above the Rift Valley, which opened December 2001.
of the Netherlands' Order of the Golden Ark Award for outstanding services to conservation in Kenya and for promoting the study of local plants for medicinal purposes. She has received an honorary degree
in Human Sciences at the University of St. Lawrence and has been nominated for the Italian presidential award Cavaliere all'Ordine della Repubblica Italiana. She was awarded the Founder's Award by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(ASPCA) in New York in 2001 and the Mimosa d'Oro for the Woman of the Year Award in Catania, Italy in April 2001.
of them from her land during a drought
. It was alleged that in the eviction women were rape
d and many cattle were killed or stolen.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
writer and poet. Born in Treviso
Treviso
Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city...
, Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
, she moved to Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
in 1972 with her husband and son and is now a Kenyan citizen. She wrote several books about her life in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, all of them in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
; the best known is I Dreamed of Africa
I Dreamed of Africa
I Dreamed of Africa is a 2000 film starring Kim Basinger, Vincent Perez, Eve Marie Saint, Garrett Strommen, Liam Aiken and Daniel Craig. It is based on the autobiographical novel I Dreamed of Africa by Kuki Gallmann, an Italian writer who moved to Kenya and became involved in conservation work...
. A movie adaptation of the book, starring Kim Basinger
Kim Basinger
Kimila Ann "Kim" Basinger is an American actress and former fashion model.She is known for her portrayals of Domino Petachi, the Bond girl in Never Say Never Again , and Vicki Vale, the female lead in Batman . Basinger received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture...
, was made in 2000. She lives in Kenya with her daughter, and she manages several social, environmental and scientific projects. Her son died of a snake bite. Her husband Paolo died in a car accident.
Biography
As a teenager she went with her father to AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
visiting the Sahara Desert. In 1970 she visited again and fell in love with the land. She moved to Kenya with her second husband Paolo and her son Emanuele in 1972.
Between 1972 and 1980 they acquired Ol Ari Nyiro, a 100,000 acre (400 km²) cattle ranch, on the edge of the Great Rift Valley
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
, in Northern Kenya where they created the first ever anti poaching squad to protect the largest population of Black Rhino in Africa and large populations of elephants, buffalo and leopards. Kuki became deeply involved with conservation.
In 1980 her husband was killed in an automobile accident while bringing a crib home for their unborn baby. Three years later her 17-year old son Emanuele died of a snake bite while trying to extract viper venom for antiserum.
Kuki founded the Gallmann Memorial Foundation in honor of Paolo and Emanuele and dedicated her life to saving the environment and wildlife of Kenya.
Kuki divides her time between Ol Ari Nyiro, Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, international speaking engagements, and writing.
Conservationist activities
Gallmann initiated schemes for essential oils extraction from indigenous plants, to protect African biodiversityBiodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
.
She is a Founder Member and Director of the Laikipia Wildlife Forum, the Ecotourism Society of Kenya, the Laikipia Nature Conservancy Trust and the Association of Private Land Rhino Sanctuaries; and Chairman of the Education committee of the Laikipia Wildlife Forum that aims to make African ecology part of Kenya primary school curriculum.
Gallmann is a member of the Olave Baden Powell Society, a goodwill ambassador for the African Medical Research Foundation and their Flying Doctors Outreach Program, a member of the Kenya Tourist Board Creative Committee, and the chairman of the 2001 WTM design subcommittee.
One of her major interests is creating living spaces, harmonious buildings and naturally inspired interior decoration. She personally designed and built the Mukutan Retreat on the estate and has completed Makena's Hills, an eco-tourism Health Centre above the Rift Valley, which opened December 2001.
Awards
In 1989 Gallmann received His Royal Highness Prince BernhardPrince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld , later Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, was prince consort of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and father of six children, including the current monarch Queen Beatrix....
of the Netherlands' Order of the Golden Ark Award for outstanding services to conservation in Kenya and for promoting the study of local plants for medicinal purposes. She has received an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
in Human Sciences at the University of St. Lawrence and has been nominated for the Italian presidential award Cavaliere all'Ordine della Repubblica Italiana. She was awarded the Founder's Award by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing cruelty towards animals...
(ASPCA) in New York in 2001 and the Mimosa d'Oro for the Woman of the Year Award in Catania, Italy in April 2001.
Lawsuit
In 2001 it was reported that Gallmann was being sued by 915 Kenyan tribespeople because of the alleged violence of her mass evictionEviction
How you doing???? Eviction is the removal of a tenant from rental property by the landlord. Depending on the laws of the jurisdiction, eviction may also be known as unlawful detainer, summary possession, summary dispossess, forcible detainer, ejectment, and repossession, among other terms...
of them from her land during a drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
. It was alleged that in the eviction women were rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d and many cattle were killed or stolen.
External links
- The Gallman Memorial Foundation / The Gallman African Conservancy
- Kertes, Tom. "Kuki Gallmann: Living the African Dream", Education Update, 2001