Maaza Mengiste
Encyclopedia
Maaza Mengiste is an Ethiopia
n writer.
In 1974, when Mengiste was four years old, Emperor Haile Selassie was overthrown in a military coup. Among the victims of the revolution were three of Mengiste's maternal uncles. Her family was forced to flee the country, and she grew up in Lagos
, Nigeria
, Nairobi
in Kenya
, and in the United States
. She has an MFA
in creative writing
from New York University
, and today lives in New York
, where she teaches the same subject. Seen as one of the many talented young voices who portray the African continent, she has been nominated to the Pushcart Prize
and named a "New Literary Idol" by New York Magazine.
Her debut novel, Beneath the Lion's Gaze, tells the story of a doctor's family in Addis Ababa
whose lives are radically changed by the revolution. It is a portrait of how far people are ready to go to achieve freedom, of the human tragedies that follow civil war, and of how feelings are twisted by a brutal regime. The novel received excellent reviews in magazines and newspapers such as The New Yorker
, USA Today
and New York Magazine. It was was the Fiction runner-up in the 2011 Dayton Literary Peace Prize
.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n writer.
In 1974, when Mengiste was four years old, Emperor Haile Selassie was overthrown in a military coup. Among the victims of the revolution were three of Mengiste's maternal uncles. Her family was forced to flee the country, and she grew up in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, 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...
in 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...
, and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She has an MFA
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
in creative writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, and today lives in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where she teaches the same subject. Seen as one of the many talented young voices who portray the African continent, she has been nominated to the Pushcart Prize
Pushcart Prize
The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are invited to nominate up to 6 works they have featured....
and named a "New Literary Idol" by New York Magazine.
Her debut novel, Beneath the Lion's Gaze, tells the story of a doctor's family in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
whose lives are radically changed by the revolution. It is a portrait of how far people are ready to go to achieve freedom, of the human tragedies that follow civil war, and of how feelings are twisted by a brutal regime. The novel received excellent reviews in magazines and newspapers such as The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
and New York Magazine. It was was the Fiction runner-up in the 2011 Dayton Literary Peace Prize
Dayton Literary Peace Prize
The Dayton Literary Peace Prize, which was first awarded in 2006, "is the only annual U.S. literary award recognizing the power of the written word to promote peace." Awards are given for adult fiction and non-fiction books published at some point within the immediate past year that have led...
.
Sources
- Biography in Anita Theorell, Afrika har ordet (2010), Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, ISBN 978-91-7106-673-2.