Idza Luhumyo

Born in 1993, in Mombasa, Kenya, Idza Luhumyo is a rising star in African literature. Her journey began with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Nairobi (2016), followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law (2019), grounding her narratives in legal realities and societal structures. She then pursued a Masters in Comparative Literature at SOAS, University of London, before embarking on an MFA in Creative Writing at Texas State University where she worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.

As a writer, Luhumyo’s multifaceted career spans across several roles, including scriptwriting and copywriting, and her work notably draws from the diverse cultures and languages of East Africa. Her narratives, characterized by their intimate tone and grounded in the lived experience of Kenyan women, blend the personal and political, often using dialogue-rich short prose filled with colloquial phrases and neologisms.

Among her renowned works, the short story »Five Years Next Sunday« (2021) earned her the prestigious AKO Caine Prize for African Writing in 2022. Her other notable works include »The Model of the Rumba Woman« (2020) and »This is For My Auntie Penzi Who—« (2020). Luhumyo’s work often engages with themes of identity, memory, and resistance, as well as the intersections of gender, culture, and power. In her own words, she aims to write stories that »map new territories in the minds and hearts of readers«.

Luhumyo’s career is peppered with a rich list of accolades, including the PEO International Peace Scholarship (2022 & 2023), the W. Morgan and Lou Claire Rose Fellowship (2021, 2022, & 2023), and the inaugural Margaret Busby New Daughters of Africa Award (2020). She was also nominated for the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative in 2022. Currently, she is working on her debut novel.

The author lives in Mombasa, Kenya.

Five Years Next Sunday

Short Story Day Africa, Catalyst Press
Minneapolis, 2021

The Model of the Rumba Woman

A Long House
Brattleboro, 2020

This is For My Auntie Penzi Who—

The Masters Review
Bend, 2020