Okello Oculi
Encyclopedia
Okello Oculi is a Uganda
n novelist, poet
, and chronicler of rural Africa
n village life. Currently, he is a private political and social consultant based in Abuja
, Nigeria
. Before that, he served as Professor of Social & Economic Research
at Ahmadu Bello University
in Zaria
, Nigeria
.
, Northern Uganda
, back when the district was still part of Lira District
.
and St. Peter's College Tororo
, both in Eastern Uganda
. He then attended St. Mary's College Kisubi
for his A-Level education (S5 -S6). He entered Makerere University
, Uganda's oldest unibversity, where he studied political science
, graduating in 1967, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
. During his undergraduate studies at Makerere, he spent one year, from 1964 until 1965, as an exchange student at Stanford University
in Palo Alto, California
, USA. In 1968, he obtained the degree of Master of Arts
(MA
), from the University of Essex
, in the United Kingdom
. His Doctor of Philosophy
(PhD
), was obtained in 1972, from the University of Wisconsin, in Madison
, Wisconsin
, USA.
and Joseph Buruga, seeks to re-assert the cultural heritage of Africa with a critique of foreign influences in East Africa
.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n novelist, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, and chronicler of rural Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n village life. Currently, he is a private political and social consultant based in Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Before that, he served as Professor of Social & Economic Research
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Ahmadu Bello University
Ahmadu Bello University
Ahmadu Bello University is the largest university in Nigeria and second largest in Africa, second only to Cairo University, Egypt. It is situated in Zaria. It was founded on October 4, 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria....
in Zaria
Zaria
Zaria may refer to:*Zaria, a city in Kaduna State, Nigeria*Zaria , or Zoria, the Slavic goddess of beauty*Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg, a member of the Dutch royal family...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
Background
He was born in 1942, in Dokolo DistrictDokolo District
Dokolo District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Dokolo, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
, Northern Uganda
Northern Region, Uganda
Northern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
, back when the district was still part of Lira District
Lira District
Lira District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like many other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Lira.-Location:Lira District is bordered by Pader District to the north, Otuke District to the northeast, Alebtong District to the east, Dokolo District to the southeast, Apac...
.
Education
He was educated at Soroti College, in SorotiSoroti
Soroti is the main municipal, commercial and administrative centre of Soroti District in Eastern Uganda, lying near Lake Kyoga. It is known for the rock formation near the town as well as a variety of Muslim mosques, Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras as well as several churches that meet in various...
and St. Peter's College Tororo
St. Peter's College Tororo
St. Peter's College Tororo , also known as Tororo College, is an all-boys boarding school covering grades 8 -13 in Eastern Uganda.-Location:...
, both in Eastern Uganda
Eastern Region, Uganda
Eastern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
. He then attended St. Mary's College Kisubi
St. Mary's College Kisubi
St. Mary's College Kisubi is a boys-only boarding middle and high school located in Wakiso District in Central Uganda.-Location:The school is situated on a campus at Kisubi, approximately , by road, south of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city...
for his A-Level education (S5 -S6). He entered Makerere University
Makerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
, Uganda's oldest unibversity, where he studied political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, graduating in 1967, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. During his undergraduate studies at Makerere, he spent one year, from 1964 until 1965, as an exchange student at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in Palo Alto, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA. In 1968, he obtained the degree of Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
(MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
), from the University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
, in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. His Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
(PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
), was obtained in 1972, from the University of Wisconsin, in Madison
Madison
- Place names :* Madison, Wisconsin, the largest city by the name and the state capital of Wisconsin* Madison, Alabama* Madison, Arkansas* Madison, California* Madison, Connecticut* Madison, Florida* Madison, Georgia* Madison, Illinois* Madison, Indiana...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, USA.
Professional work
His writing is filled with authentic snatches of conversation, proverbs, and folk wisdom. His poetry, like that of Okot p'BitekOkot p'Bitek
Okot p'Bitek was a Ugandan poet, who achieved wide international recognition for Song of Lawino, a long poem dealing with the tribulations of a rural African wife whose husband has taken up urban life and wishes everything to be westernised...
and Joseph Buruga, seeks to re-assert the cultural heritage of Africa with a critique of foreign influences in East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
.
External links
- Britannica Online Encyclopedia: Okello Oculi
- Africa: Obama Must Tame America for the Continent of His Ancestors , The MonitorThe MonitorThe Monitor is the name of several publications worldwide* The Monitor , an alternative newspaper at Truman State University* The Monitor , a news magazine published in Podgorica...
, 20 February 2008
See also
- Dokolo DistrictDokolo DistrictDokolo District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Dokolo, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
- Makerere UniversityMakerere UniversityMakerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
- Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
- University of EssexUniversity of EssexThe University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
- Ahmadou Bello University
Books written
- Song for the Sun in Us - (2000)
- Discourses on African Affairs: Directions and Destinies For the 21st Century - (1999)
- Political Economy of Malnutrition - (1987)
- Kookolem - (1976)
- Malak: An African Political Poem - (1976)
- Imperialism, Settlers and Capitalism in Kenya - (1975)
- Kanta Riti - (1972)
- Orphan - (1968) (dramatized poetry)
- Prostitute - (1968)