ODHIAMBO, David Nandi 1965-

PERSONAL:

Born June 24, 1965, in Kenya; son of Barack and Florence Engasia (a social worker; maiden name, Asava) Odhiambo; married August 15, 1999; wife's name Seonagh Maria (a professor). Education: McGill University, B.A., 1987; University of Massachusetts, M.F.A., 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Agent—c/o Author Mail, Penguin Books Canada Ltd., 10 Alcorn Ave., Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4V 3B2. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer. Banff Centre for the Arts, resident at Writing Studio, 1994, 1996; gives readings from his works. Ontario Human Rights Commission, mitigation officer, 1989; Carleton University, researcher and writer for CKDU-Radio, 1990; United Nations Association, educator with Africa 2000 Program, 1991-93, coordinator and publicist for Africa Focus: Model U.N. for Youth, 1992; CoDevelopment Canada, coordinator and facilitator of youth dialogue on race relations, 1992; Alternate Shelter Society, youth care worker, 1995-96; Vingee and Associates, youth care worker, 1998.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Grants from Canada Council, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2002, Heritage Cultures and Language Program of Multiculturalism and Citizenship Canada, 1994, 1996, British Columbia Arts Council, 1997, 2000, and National Film Board of Canada, 1997.

WRITINGS:

Diss/ed banded nation (novel), Polestar Book Publishers (Custer, WA), 1998.

Kipligat's Chance (novel), Penguin Books Canada (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), 2003, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 2004.

Author of plays, including Afrocentric, produced in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at Theatre Passe Muraille; and a videotape, Skinned, Museum of Modern Art. Work represented in anthologies, including Mouth to Mouth (poetry), Panarky Press, 1995; Beyond the Pale, Playwrights Canada Press (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), 1996; and Eying the North Star (short stories), McClelland & Stewart (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), 1997. Contributor of articles, essays, poetry, short stories, and reviews to periodicals, including Prairie Fire, West Coast Journal of Contemporary Writing and Criticism, TickleAce, Mix, Blood and Aphorisms, Reverse Shot, Spectrum, and Vancouver Sun.