Résumé
About me
As an outgrowth of my long-term engagement with social justice movements, I have a special interest in the inter-linguistic and inter-cultural communications to bring about inclusion of marginalized communities, especially those with African history in the diaspora.
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My M.A. Thesis, (dissertation) “Policing the Mau Mau” (University of London, 2005) was on the paradox of policing the Mau Mau Freedom Movement during the Emergency Period of British Colonial Kenya, 1952-1960.
The thesis partly concerned my mother’s role as a freedom fighter in this period. I am now working on a book, Elizabeth Nyaruai Macharia: A Feminist Mau Mau Freedom Fighter (a biography of my mother, the first black police woman in British Kenya who also doubled as a Mau Mau spy).
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Languages spoken: Fluent in Gĩkũyũ/Kikuyu, Kiswahili/Swahili, and English.
Languages studied and can read in: Somali.
Education
2005
M.A. African Studies
University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, (SOAS), UK.
2003
B.A. African Studies
University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, (SOAS), UK.
2018
Texas Educator Certificate
2010
Post Graduate Teaching Certificate, Teaching Languages of The Wider World
University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) & University College London (UCL), UK.
Teaching
Academic
Media
Legal
Trained by SOSi USA in Simultaneous & Consecutive Court Interpretation
Retired
Social Studies Teacher Grade 7-12
Houston Independent School District, TX, USA.
Providing students with appropriate learning activities and experiences designed to fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical and social growth.
2014-2015
Gĩku͂yu͂ language Consultant
Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
Working in Gĩku͂yu͂ language consulting with a mixed class of Postgraduates and Undergraduates in Field Methods Training and organizing one on one consultation for a more detailed analysis of Gĩku͂ yu͂ language and culture
2010-2013
Kiswahili Lecturer & Tutor
University of Cambridge, UK.
Organizing and setting-up the Swahili Teaching Program at the Centre of African Studies, University of Cambridge United Kingdom
2007-2008
Kiswahili Lecturer & Tutor
University of London (SOAS), UK.
Catering to international students in all levels of Swahili, planning lessons and holding intensive courses during holidays.
Ongoing
Private Tutor in Swahili Language and Culture
Various, Worldwide.
Long term, on-going courses with a wide range of clients including professors and diplomats.
Ongoing
Visiting Research Scholar
Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
Department of Anthropology
2008-2012
Chief Examiner
EDEXCEL (Education Excellence)
Swahili International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)
2012
Swahili Language Expert and Voice Over
Prometheus (dir. Ridley Scott)
20th Century Studios
2012
Language Consultant
Dira ya Dunia
BBC World Service
2011-2012
Chief Court Interpreter and Translator
Leigh Day & Co Solicitors
Worked on a major-historical legal case at the Royal Courts of Justice London, UK - FCO vs. MAU MAU Kenyan Freedom Fighters