Mugabi Byenkya

Mugabi Byenkya is an award-winning writer of prose, poetry, comics, essays, drama & songs. He was born in Nigeria, to Ugandan parents and is currently based in Kampala.

Mugabi's writing is used to teach High School English in Kampala and Toronto schools. His prose, poetry, comics, essays, drama & songs have been published in Carte Blanche, Best Canadian Poetry, and Skin Deep, along over 40 other publications. He has been interviewed on Voice of America, NTV Uganda, and Brittle Paper, along over 80 other media outlets.

In 2015: Mugabi was longlisted for the Babishai Niwe Poetry Award.

In 2017: he won the Discovering Diversity Poetry Contest; his award-nominated debut, ‘Dear Philomena,’ was published and he went on a 3 year, 45 city, 5 country North America/East Africa tour in support of this.

In 2018: Mugabi was named one of 56 writers who has contributed to his native Uganda’s literary heritage in the 56 years since independence by Writivism (East Africa's largest literary festival); and Dear Philomena, was named a Ugandan bestseller.

In 2019: Mugabi was selected as one of ten emerging theater artists in bcHUB’s Emerging Artists Ensemble 2019/2020; he was named a finalist for Realwheels Playwright-In-Residence and the recipient of an inaugural Realwheels Encouragement Award.

In 2020: Mugabi's poem "If I Die Bury Me Next To My Father" was selected by Marilyn Dumont to be anthologized in "Best Canadian Poetry 2020'' published by Biblioasis; and his debut novel-memoir 'Dear Philomena,' was nominated for the 2020 Nommo Awards For Speculative Fiction By Africans.

In 2022: Mugabi was shortlisted as one of 3 finalists for the 26 Emerging Writers Award and received a high commendation; he was awarded a grant by the House of African Feminisms: a project of the Goethe-Institut Lagos, Goethe-Institut Kigali and Goethe-Institut Johannesburg; and on the penultimate day of 2022, Mugabi released his award-nominated debut mixtape "Songs For Wo(Men) 2" via the independent American record label Hello America Stereo Cassette.

In 2023: Mugabi was shortlisted as one of three nominees for the Inclusive Africa Icon Award 2023, as well as being selected as a panelist for the Inclusive Africa Conference 2023; he received a fellowship to attend the Sundress Academy For The Arts 2nd Annual Writers Retreat; additionally, Mugabi was nominated for 2 Ugandan Hip-Hop Awards; namely: "Western Rapper of The Year" for "Philomena's Voicemail #2" and "Mixtape of The Year" for "Songs For Wo(Men) 2" his debut mixtape; moreover, Mugabi was selected as an auditor for the Poets and Scholars Summer Writing Retreat 2023 by Rutgers University Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice.

Mugabi wants to be Jaden Smith when he grows up.