Literary lioness Asenath Bole Odaga closes her chapter at 83

One of Kenya’s literary giants died early this week. Yet many Kenyans may never have heard of Asenath Bole Odaga, 83, who died on December 1 in Kisumu after an extended battle with pancreatic cancer.

The prolific writer, pioneering publisher-printer, champion of women and girls’ empowerment, and all-round advocate, researcher and scholar in the field of African oral literature, Asenath had the strength to move mountains at many levels.