Biosketch: Adhiambo Yvonne Owuor

Adhiambo Yvonne Owuor

(CARTHA Board member, September 2006 to March 2009)

Writer, Nairobi, Kenya

Yvonne Owuor is the recipient of the 2003 Caine Prize for African Writing, which was awarded for her short story, “Weight of Whispers”, described by the BBC as a “subtle and suggestive work of fiction that dramatises the condition of refugees”. On receiving her prize, Yvonne (the second Kenyan to receive the Caine Prize) said the award “has given me the right to write”.

In the recent past she has worked as a screen writer and was the Executive Director of the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) from 2003 to 2005.

Yvonne was born in Nairobi, Kenya.  She holds a BA degree in Linguistics, English and History from Jomo Kenyatta University and an MA (TV/Video Development) degree from the University of Reading in Britain.