This archive report was first published on 20 November 2019.
BY THE BOOK: Amos Onyango ¶
Published on November 20, 2019
Amos Onyango, a Kenyan author and Project Manager of The PLO Lumumba Foundation, has a passion for reading and writing. In this interview, he shares his favorite books, reading habits, and insights on the importance of self-reliance and integrity.
Onyango holds a Bachelor of Education (English and Literature) from Kenyatta University and has authored two books, 'Twists and Turns: A Story of Survival' and 'Cyber Bullying: A Crime against Humanity'. He is also trained in Cross-Cultural Communication by Heinrich Foundation (Germany).
When asked about his favorite books, Onyango mentions 'Thomas Sankara Speaks' by Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara, 'Unbowed' by Wangari Maathai, and 'Dead Aid' by Dambisa Moyo. He praises Sankara's leadership and Maathai's courage in environmental conservation, and highlights Moyo's recommendation for self-reliance and local markets to boost the economy.
Onyango reads between 150 and 200 books per year and has a special place in his room where he reads, especially in the early-morning hours and on weekends. His favorite genre is non-fiction, as he believes it helps him master real issues affecting society.
He treasures two books, 'Thomas Sankara Speaks' and 'Unbowed', and would lend them out for a week in exchange for the borrower's favorite books. Onyango would like to meet Dambisa Moyo, Chinua Achebe, and William Shakespeare to learn from them.
He recommends three books to a 10-year-old: 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell, 'Integrity Series' by PLO Lumumba, and 'Two Truths and a Lie' by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson. Onyango believes that these books will inspire children to be practical, have a sense of morality, and figure out what is true and what is a lie.
When asked about his thoughts on the reading culture of Kenyans, Onyango believes it's poor due to divided concentration caused by technological distractions. He prefers hard copies over e-books because he can easily read without straining his eyes.
His last read was 'Why Africa is Poor and What Africans can do about it' by Greg Mills, which he found informative and inspiring. Onyango would advise aspiring authors to learn from every circumstance and see failure as a challenge to pull them up and keep going.
