Timothy Wangusa

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Timothy Wangusa (May 1942-) is a celebrated Ugandan poet and novelist.

Wangusa was born in Bugisu, in eastern Uganda and studied English at Makerere University College where later served as faculty head and professor; and The University of Leeds (UK). He wrote his MA and PhD on British and African poetry, respectively. A Mumasaaba, Wangusa started working at Makerere University in 1969. He was appointed as Professor in 1981 (first from his region), and later served as Head of Department of Literature and Dean of Faculty of Arts. He was also Minister of Education in the Ugandan Government (1985-6) and Member of Parliament (1989-96).

His collection of poems Salutations: Poems 1965-1975 (1977), reissued with additional poems as A Pattern of Dust: Selected Poems 1965-1990 (1994), reflects his rural origins. Upon This Mountain (1989), a novel, tells the story of Mwambu, who is determined to touch heaven, and describes his journey towards adulthood. The novel combines African folktale and proverbs with Christian symbolism.

Wangusa was chairman of Uganda Writers Association and founder president of International PEN Uganda Centre.

[edit] Publications

• Salutations, EALB (Nairobi), 1977

• Upon this mountain, Heinemann (Oxford), 1989

• A Pattern of Dust, Fountain (Kampala), 1994

• Anthem for Africa, La Rosa (Turin), 1995

• African Epiphanies

[edit] Reference

Centre for Creative Arts, Durban, University of Kwazulu Natal [1]

Uganda, Humble Beautiful Country