{{Short description|Kenyan publisher (1946–2024)|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox person | birth_name = Henry Miyinzi Chakava | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date text|26 April 1946}} | birth_place = Kenya | death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|3|8|1946|4|26|df=y}} <!-- Do not remove this date as this is Wikipedia's standard format for birth and death dates. --> | death_place = Nairobi, Kenya | citizenship = | education = Friends School Kamusinga | alma_mater = University of Nairobi | occupation = Publisher | awards = {{hlist|The 2006 Prince Claus Awards|2000 Zimbabwe International Book Fair Award}} | years_active = 1972–2024 | known_for = {{hlist| Founding African Publishing Institute (API)|African Publishers Network (APNET)|Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature|Kenya Book Development Council|East African Book Development Council|Kenya Publishers Association<ref name="founding"/>}} | title = }}
'''Henry Chakava''' (26 April 1946 – 8 March 2024) was a Kenyan publisher. He focused on the publication of books particularly in East Africa and has been described as "the father of Kenyan publishing" for being a pioneer publisher in Kenya who promoted free speech through literature.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-tkyk8Q4gI "JSO INTERVIEW, HENRY CHAKAVA, 23RD MAY PART 1"], YouTube, 24 May 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wanjala |first1=Chris |title=Going down memory lane with doyen of publishing |url=https://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/weekend/Going-down-memory-lane-with-doyen-of-publishing/1220-3133954-10yykwk/index.html |newspaper=Daily Nation |date=25 March 2016 |language=en-UK}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bgoya |first1=Walter |author-link=Walter Bgoya |date=8 April 2024 |title=Henry Chakava (1946 - 2024): The publisher who pricked the people into consciousness |url=https://africanarguments.org/2024/04/henry-chakava-the-publisher-who-pricked-the-people-into-consciousness/ |website=African Arguments}}</ref> For his contribution to educational and cultural literature in East Africa, he received several awards.<ref>{{cite news |title=Henry Chakava the man who accepted 'My Life in Crime' written on tissue paper in Kamiti Prison - The Standard Entertainment |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/county-nairobi/article/2001228798/henry-chakava-the-man-who-accepted-my-life-in-crime-written-on-tissue-paper-in-kamiti-prison |work=The Standard (Kenya) |date=8 March 2024 |archive-date=8 March 2024 |access-date=19 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308105111/https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/county-nairobi/article/2001228798/henry-chakava-the-man-who-accepted-my-life-in-crime-written-on-tissue-paper-in-kamiti-prison |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
== Early life and education == Henry Miyinzi Chakava<ref>"Chakava, Henry Miyinzi", in ''Africa Who's Who'', London: Africa Journal for Africa Books Ltd, 1981, p. 261.</ref> was born on 26 April 1946 in Vokoli Vihiga County, Kenya Colony. He began his career after completing his studies in literature and philosophy in 1972.<ref>Chakava, Henry (July 1999), [http://www.bellagiopublishingnetwork.com/newsletter25/chakava.htm "Dealing with the British"], ''BPN Newsletter'', Issue No. 25, Bellagio Publishing Network.</ref>
== Career ==
=== Publishing=== Chakava started out as an apprentice editor and later became chief editor of Heinemann Educational Books, where he was involved in the publication and promotion of many notable African writers, including Ali Mazrui, Chinua Achebe, Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye, Meja Mwangi, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and Okot p'Bitek.<ref name ="PCA">{{cite web |title=Henry Chakava |url=https://princeclausfund.nl/awardees/henry-chakava |website=Prince Claus Fund |language=en}}</ref><ref name="OBU">Oxford Brookes University, [http://www.brookes.ac.uk/about/honorary/profiles/henry_chakava biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203132412/http://www.brookes.ac.uk/about/honorary/profiles/henry_chakava |date=3 February 2013 }}</ref>
In 1992, Chakava founded East African Educational Publishers, which later expanded with establishments in Uganda and Tanzania.<ref name="PCA"/><ref name="OBU" />
Chakava published a great number of educational and cultural books that have had a major importance in eastern Africa. His publications included school books for primary and tertiary education that signified an important renewal in view of the subjects that were written from an African perspective. Previously, many school books in East Africa were influenced greatly by a Western viewpoint.<ref name="PCA" />
Also in the cultural field, Chakava came with innovating publications. Besides books in the English language, he published in local languages, at a time when local languages were still seen by governments and authorities as state-subversive. Furthermore he published books with a critical stance on local governments. Challenging the boundaries of the freedom of expression, he took great risks and in fact, was repeatedly threatened.<ref name="PCA" />
Chakava was the author of the 1996 book ''Publishing in Africa: One Man's Perspective'',<ref>[http://www.africanbookscollective.com/authors-editors/henry-chakava Henry Chakava page] at African Books Collective.</ref> for which Chinua Achebe wrote a brief introduction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kenyanpoet.com/2013/03/30/remembering-chinua-achebe-dr-henry-chakava/ |title=Remembering Chinua Achebe; Dr.Henry Chakava|website=Kenya Poet|first=Njeri |last=Wangari|date= 30 March 2013}}</ref>
To celebrate Henry Chakava's 70th birthday, a number of key personalities in the publishing world authored a book, ''Coming of Age: Strides in African Publishing'', published by East African Educational Publishers Ltd, Nairobi Kenya. The new release, published in April 2016, is a collection of essays in honour of Dr Henry Chakava @70.
He is remembered for founding African Publishers Network (APNET), his permanent membership of the Council of Management of the African Books Collective (ABC) and the African Publishing Institute (API). API had partnerships such as the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, the World Bank, Norwegian Aid, and the Canadian International Development Agency to enhance African literature.<ref name="founding">{{cite news |last1=Muluka |first1=Barrack |title=Henry Chakava: Affable, professional giant and level-headed publisher |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/barrack-muluka/article/2001491142/henry-chakava-affable-professional-giant-and-level-headed-publisher?utm_cmp_rs=amp-next-page |newspaper=The Standard|date=9 March 2024 |language=en}}</ref> He also founded the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature, jointly with the Shah and Rhughani families of the Text Book Centre.<ref name="founding"/> He is also credited with drafting the copyright act of Kenya.<ref name="founding"/>
=== University lecturer === Henry Chakava was a visiting lecturer at Oxford Brookes University.<ref name="PCA" />
== Death == Chakava died in Nairobi on 8 March 2024, at the age of 77.<ref>{{cite news |title=Veteran publisher Henry Chakava dies at 77 |url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/lifestyle/profiles/veteran-publisher-henry-chakava-dies-at-77-4549192#google_vignette |access-date=8 March 2024 |newspaper=Business Daily |date=8 March 2024|first=David|last=Muchunguh}}</ref>
== Recognition == Chakava received several awards. Here follows a selection: *1984: Award for extraordinary service to Kenya, by President Moi<ref name="OBU" /> *2000: Zimbabwe International Book Fair Award <ref name="OBU" /> *2005: Honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kimani |first1=Peter |title=Kenya: Doctorate the Latest Addition to Accolades |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200507111167.html |newspaper=Daily Nation |date=10 July 2005}}</ref> *2006: Prince Claus Award<ref name="OBU" />
== See also ==
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-tkyk8Q4gI "JSO INTERVIEW, HENRY CHAKAVA, 23RD MAY PART 1"], YouTube, 24 May 2013. * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4n-i5tKwwM "JSO INTERVIEW, HENRY CHAKAVA, 23RD MAY PART 2"], YouTube, 24 May 2013.
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chakava, Henry}} Category:1946 births Category:2024 deaths Category:Alumni of Friends School Kamusinga Category:Book publishing company founders Category:Kenyan businesspeople Category:Kenyan publishers (people) Category:People from Western Province (Kenya) Category:Kenyan Luhya people