Troy Onyango (born 1993) is a Kenyan writer, editor and lawyer.[1] His work has appeared in journals and magazines including Prairie Schooner, Wasafiri, Caine Prize Anthology,[2] Brittle Paper, and Transition Magazine issue 121, for which his short story "The Transfiguration" was nominated for the Pushcart Prize.[3] His short story "For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings" won the fiction prize for the inaugural Nyanza Literary Festival (NALIF) Prize.[4]

Troy Onyango
Born1993 (age 30–31)
Kisumu, Kenya
NationalityKenyan
Alma materUniversity of East Anglia
University of Nairobi
Occupations
  • Writer
  • Lawyer
Websitetroyonyango.com

Life and career

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Troy Onyango was born and grew up in Kisumu, an inland port city along the shores of Lake Victoria in Western Kenya. He attended the University of Nairobi, where he studied law. He obtained an MA in creative writing from the University of East Anglia where he was a recipient of the Miles Morland Foundation Writing Scholarship.

In 2016, he won the inaugural Nyanza Literary Festival (NALIF) Prize[5] for his short story, "For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings". In the same year, his short story "The Transfiguration", which follows the life of a transgender character who struggles to navigate Nairobi, was nominated for the Pushcart Prize by Transition Magazine.[6] He was also shortlisted for the Miles Morland Foundation Scholarship.[7] He has also attended the Ebedi International Writers' Residency in Iseyin, Oyo State, Nigeria.[8] In 2018, Troy was listed among the 21 Best African Writers of the New Generation by Woke Africa.[9]

Troy Onyango is the founder and editor of Lolwe, an online magazine that publishes fiction, literary criticism, personal essays, photography, and poetry.[10] He is also the editor of Panorama: The Journal of Intelligent Travel, a British literary journal with a modern focus on travel literature, art, and photography.[11]

Works

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Short stories

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  • "All Things Bright & Beautiful" in Caine Prize Anthology (2018)
  • "Little Daju" in AFREADA
  • "Wet Ash" in Ebedi Review
  • "For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings?"
  • "The Transfiguration" in Transition Magazine[12]

References

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  1. ^ "About". Troy Onyango. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  2. ^ The Caine Prize For African Writing 2018 https://newint.org/books/fiction/caine-prize-2018/
  3. ^ "BY THE BOOK: Troy Onyango". 2 July 2020.
  4. ^ "TAKE 5 with Troy Onyango". 5 July 2020.
  5. ^ Doctor and law student win in inaugural writing prize in Nyanza https://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/weekend/Doctor-and-law-student-win-in-inaugural-writing-prize-in-Nyanza/1220-3367406-format-xhtml-thpp3kz/index.html
  6. ^ Pushcart Prize 2016 nominations: Panashe Chigumadzi, Nneoma Ike-Njoku and Troy Onyango http://www.jamesmurua.com/pushcart-prize-2016-nominations-panashe-chigumadzi-nneoma-ike-njoku-troy-onyango/
  7. ^ Morland Writing Scholarship – 2016 Shortlist https://milesmorlandfoundation.com/morland-writing-scholarship-2016-shortlist/
  8. ^ Ebedi Residency: Iseyin hosts three writers http://punchng.com/residency-iseyin-hosts-three-writers/
  9. ^ Woke Africa’s Choice: 21 Best African Writers of the New Generation https://www.wokeafrica.com/2018/03/27/woke-africas-choice-21-best-african-writers-of-the-new-generation/
  10. ^ Troy. "About". Lolwe. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  11. ^ East Africa Print Edition – Panorama: The Journal of Intelligent Travel http://www.panoramajournal.org/east-africa-print-edition/
  12. ^ With these prizes, the future of writing in Africa is in safe hands https://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/weekend/WANNER-the-future-of-writing-in-Africa-is-in-safe-hands/1220-3449440-rrsi1sz/
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