Okot p'Bitek
Okot p'Bitek was a prominent Ugandan poet, playwright, and cultural figure renowned for his contributions to African literature. Born in Gulu, in the Acholi region of Uganda, he was influenced by his mother's involvement in music and folklore, which shaped his artistic identity. After completing his education in Uganda, p'Bitek pursued higher studies in the UK, earning degrees in education, law, and social anthropology. His literary career gained momentum with the publication of "Song of Lawino" in 1966, a powerful poem in rhyming couplets that critiques social issues and illustrates the struggles of African identity, becoming a celebrated work in African literature.
Throughout his life, p'Bitek engaged in teaching at various universities across Africa and the United States, contributing to cultural discourse and education. He faced political challenges, notably enduring exile due to his criticism of the Ugandan government. After the fall of Idi Amin, he returned to Uganda to teach at Makerere University. Okot p'Bitek's work remains significant for its cultural insights and social commentary, reflecting the complexities of post-colonial African society. His legacy is marked by a blend of artistic talent and a commitment to addressing the issues facing his community and continent.
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Okot p'Bitek
- Born: June 7, 1931
- Birthplace: Gulu, Uganda
- Died: July 20, 1982
- Place of death: Kampala, Uganda
Biography
Okot p’Bitek grew up in Gulu, the largest town in the Acholi region of Uganda, with a father who taught school and a mother who was a leader in the community, as well as a talented musician. Learning from his mother, p’Bitek absorbed much Acholi folklore and became a talented drummer and dancer. After graduating from Gulu High School, p’Bitek enrolled at King’s College in Budo, writing and producing theater and opera while there and teaching in Gulu.
In the mid-1950’s, p’Bitek, in his twenties, played for Uganda’s national soccer team, and following a soccer tour in England in 1958, he decided to remain for further college studies. He earned a certificate in education from Bristol University and a law degree from the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth. He continued his education in the early 1960’s at Oxford, where he studied social anthropology and graduated with a B.Litt. in 1963.
Upon his return to Uganda at age thirty-three, p’Bitek taught sociology at Makerere University in Kamapala. Two years later, he began directing the Uganda Cultural Centre; he also founded arts festivals in Gulu and Kisumu. After he criticized the Amin government in writing, p’Bitek was forced into exile in Kenya. In 1967, he took a job teaching in the literature department at Nairobi University.
Though he had published his first novel, Lak Tar Miyo Kinyero Wi Lobo (White Teeth), in 1953, p’Bitek achieved wider success and renown with his 1966 publication: a long poem of rhyming couplets, Song of Lawino, which he had composed in his native language in 1956 before translating it himself into English. The poem was hailed as one of the most significant African poems of the 1960’s. Okot p’Bitek was a socially aware writer, and his observations and criticisms feature in his writings and his poems, as well as his prose pieces.
In the following years, p’Bitek taught at various African as well as American universities, including the University of Iowa, where he served as a fellow in the International Writing Program from 1969 to 1970, and as a writer- in-residence in 1971 at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Ife in Nigeria, where he taught as a visiting professor in 1978. He also lectured at the Institute of African Studies in Nairobi, where he became a senior research fellow in 1971. With the overthrow of the Amin government in 1979, p’Bitek returned to his native Uganda and accepted a position as professor of creative writing in the literature department of Makerere University.