Christopher Odhiambo

Kenya

Christopher ODHIAMBO joseph (CJ)

Is an Associate Professor of Post Colonial Literatures and Applied Drama. Teaches both Literature and theatre at Moi University’s Department of Literature, Theatre and Film Studies. Was awarded a doctorate in drama at Stellenbosch University on a research work that investigated the appropriate procedures and methodology of practice in Theatre for Development in Kenya. The book version of the doctoral thesis was published in Germany in 2008 under the title: Theatre for Development in Kenya: In Search of Appropriate Methodology and Procedure. Has participated in a number of educational and intervention theatre workshops, seminars and conferences locally and internationally as facilitator, paper presenter and keynote speaker. He has published widely on the area of educational and intervention drama/ theatre as well as literature in journals and books. He was the Co-convener and organizer of the International Drama/Theatre Education Association in Kisumu Kenya in 1998 and the KDEA International symposium that preceded it in 1997 at University of Nairobi and Kenya National Theatre. He is a perennial adjudicator at all levels in the Kenya National Schools and Colleges Drama Festival. He pioneered the teaching of theatre at Moi University. In 2007 he won a Mellon post doctoral fellowship to pursue research on the intervention and transformative strategies in the drama(s) of Cameroonian playwright Bole Butake at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He has taught drama at Stellenbosch and Wits University. He also writes short stories, poems and plays; has also directed a number of plays. He was part of the team of experts that designed and implemented the curriculum of DFL and is member of Drama for Life (DfL) research committee. Was one time the project director of IDEA.