David Mulwa has made major contributions to the East African literary scene for more than five decades.
Last week, he was honoured by Kenya’s literary luminaries, theatre and film practitioners and enthusiasts during an event to celebrate his 50 years of contribution to the growth of creative writing and theatre.
The event, titled ‘Mulwa at 70’, was organised by Kinyanjui Kombani and was held at Alliance Francaise in Nairobi. Mulwa also launched his latest book, Flee, Mama Flee.
Board members of Sanaa Theatre Awards presented him a 2014 award for exemplary theatre performances.
Thespian George Orido said the board chaired by one of Kenya’s finest literary critics, Prof Chris Wanjala, settled on Mulwa for the award.
The event was moderated and co-hosted by renowned thespian and playwright John Sibi-Okumu, who worked with Mulwa in the inaugural production of Joe de Graft’s Muntu, which subsequently became a high school setbook for many years.
The Wangari Maathat Auditorium was overflowing with literary scholars and critics, creative writers, university students and lovers of theatre and written word.
In attendance were authors Tony Mochama, Alex Nderitu, Chris Lymo, Ken Walibora and Wanjiku Muchai, Shiro Marima among others.
Scholars Wandia Njoya of Daystar University and Evan Mwangi of Northwestern University also attended the event.
Prominent lawyer Stephen Mwenesi and former government spokesman Muthui Kariuki are among the speakers who honoured Mulwa.
Speakers described Mulwa as a man who has nurtured their creative talents. Kombani of Last Villains of Molo described Mulwa as the man who taught and encouraged him to write. “When I gave him my script of Last Villains of Molo, he read through it putting exclamation marks almost at the end of every sentence but at the end, he wrote ‘this is a masterpiece’. This affirmed me,” said Kombani.
Kombani’s book was published eight years later and it has been studied in three universities in Kenya and three universities in the US — the prestigious Harvard University, University of Sussex and Cornell University.
Mwangi described Mulwa famed for Master and the Servant, Redemption and Buriani as the man who has shaped his academic life.
“I have taught Mulwa’s books in three universities and I have had a student write his dissertation on Mulwa’s works,” said Mwangi.
Mulwa has made enormous contribution to Kenya’s literary scene as a thespian, actor, writer and mentor.
He started out as a teacher at Mukaa High School and Kangundo High School Machakos. He went to Ohio University where he was a teaching assistant in English before proceeding to Athens between 1979 and 1980. He then moved to Kenyatta University, where he has been for over 34 years.
Mulwa teaches theatre (History of theatre), drama, playwriting, directing and acting.
He has been adjudicator Kenya Drama Festivals Committee, Nairobi, since 1978 and serves as the member governing council, Kenya Cultural Centre Committee, Nairobi.
With 19 books to his name and having appeared in over 50 films and TV programmes, Mulwa is one of Kenya’s most prolific writers.
At the event, Mulwa said he began acting in 1952, at the age of seven. He has featured in film, stage television productions including Tahidi High and Higher Learning.
Mulwa has earned two heads of state commendations by President Daniel Moi in 1994 and Mwai Kibaki in 2005 for his outstanding literary works.
He has been awarded a Hero’s award by KU’s governing council and awarded by Kenya Film Commission two times: in Kalasha Award for lifetime Achievement and Theatre Lifetime Achievement.