I had Bantu as my professor for playwrighting last spring (2008) and thoroughly enjoyed his teaching style. He really helped my writing and creativity grow into a real passion for scripts. I am terribly sadden at this news and will be praying for his family.
Karen Sesterhenn '11
These are painful and sad news. May he be at peace now. Such an incredible loss. Strength to his wife, family and friends.
Arturs Saburovs '10
He was a wonderful professor, a brilliant storyteller, and an amazing man - I am so, SO sorry that he's gone. I hope with all of my heart that Susan and the two girls will be alright. I was so clear that he loved all of them so much - I hope they know this. My deepest sympathies and heartfelt prayers to the family.
I met Bantu during his performance (storytelling) at one of the ASU African Nights. We clicked immediately and started telling jokes, he gave me some advise on life and personal relationships which we kept going back to whenever we ran into each other. My most sincere... Lo siento! Hope his family, wife and kids can find comfort in one another and know that there is a family of many individuals in the North Country who loves them.
Sahiry Rodriguez '07
Never had I ever gotten to speak Gikuyu and Kenyan Politics as passionately as I did with you sir..and I always meant to tell you that.I guess the day you beat me in Scrabble was a complete assertion of how an art expert and master you had become. I remember the day you performed a story during African Night...brought back memories from my grandfather. Indeed, you had become like another father for me, and I will miss you.
God bless and you are in my prayers Mrs Bantu.
Peterson Maina '10
Mr. Bantu was such an amazing man, and my heart is truly saddened. I pray for his soul to rest in eternal peace. To Mrs. Bantu and her daughters ,my thoughts and prayers are with you. May the almighty give you strength.
Leila Mohamed '11
I heard you tell a story and instantly felt your goodness and charisma. Wish I had known you better. May You Rest in Peace.
Bantu was a great guy and a great teacher. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know him.
Dennis Morreale '07
Susan, I am so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and my prayers are with you. Please be comforted by your beautiful memories and your powerful dreams.
Ed Boyd '72
I did not know Bantu Mwaura personally, but I did take Swahili with his wife Susan. I also attended the story telling performance last semester his class put on and I was blown away by how emotional and interesting he was when performing. I actually felt like I was in the story. It was one of the best performances I have ever been to. I send my condolences to Susan, their girls, and his family. I'm so sorry for your loss and may God be with you during this difficult time.
Alexis Nuffer '10
I invited Bantu to guest lecture in my African literature course in Fall 08. We were reading a novel about Kenyan's struggle for independence (A Grain of Wheat) and Bantu began by referencing his amazing dreadlocks and explaining what kind of cultural symbol they were during the Land and Freedom movement led by Dedan Kimathi. Bantu's lecture was brilliant and so comprehensive; he was a first-class scholar of African literature, but even more, he was a first-class creative artist and public intellectual whose energy and whole being just changed every room he was in. I am so so sorry to think he is gone, and to reflect on the loss that Susan and their daughters must endure.
Patricia Alden
I did not know Mwaura, but I was pleased to know Susan. Susan, you are truly a warm and wonderful person and I regret not taking the time to get to know you and your family better. My thoughts are with you and your girls.
Cynthia Lonsbary, Psychology
Bantu was my play writing professor last spring and I learned so much from him. He always had a smile on his face, was genuinely interested in his students' work and well-being and was a fantastically creative man. He was the kind of professor that made me want to work hard and do my best. Additionally, he helped me realize my own potential in creatively crafting and writing a play, which is something that I have always wanted to do.
Bantu, thank you so much for everything that you have done for me, the SLU community and beyond. You are a generous soul and we love and miss you greatly.
Beth Dixon '10
I am very very sorry to hear that. Dear Susan, please accept my condolences and pass them to your girls and all your family. I wish you to stay strong for yourself and for your wonderful daughters. Bantu will be always in our memories.
Natalia Ovchinnikova
My deepest sympathy to you, Susan, and to your sweet daughters. Bantu's light will forever shine brightly in this world. I'm so sorry. I shall long remember Bantu's beautiful smile.
Margaret Bass
Bantu was one of the coolest, kindest, most brilliant professors I've had. I loved his African Playwriting course; he encouraged his students to be open-minded, passionate, and artistic. The performance we put on, "Ballots Not Bullets," raised awareness for African struggles and reminded us of the power of unity and a non-violent approach. It was a joy to meet his beautiful daughters and have his lovely wife, Susan, as my Swahili professor. He was such a wonderful man, I cannot believe this news. Mwalimu Susan, my prayers are with you and your girls.
Clare Jerome '09
Ballots Not Bullets. That was the title of the performance that The Art of Storytelling class performed in. Bantu taught us the value of freedom, narrative storytelling, and creativity. He was an inspiration to his students. I had the honor to be one of them. He professed that peace was possible no matter the conflict, no matter the odds. He was a great man and a gifted teacher. His spirit will live on through those he touched. It saddens me to think that he is gone from this place but his teachings will live on. Elimu haina mwisho. Thank you Bantu, you will be remembered.
William Kahn '10
I did not know Bantu Mwaura personally, but I had Susan Bantu for Swahili both fall of 2007 and spring of 2008. I attended Bantu Mwaura's class performances last spring because my friend was in the class. The students' performances were very well done and Bantu Mwaura seemed like an excellent professor according to the great things my friend had to say about him. My condolences go out to Susan and the children as well as the rest of the family. We are all thinking of you.
Emily Bean '09
I've heard about Bantu but I know Susan Bantu. I was Susan Bantu's swahili TA at SLU. I am very sorry about the loss. May you and your girls find comfort in your family and friends. I'll remember you in my prayers. Rest in Peace Bantu Mwaura.
Alica Lenanyokie '07
Bantu's personal presence was so very large. Having met him but several times I still remember his creative and intellectual force. Our hearts grieve are with Susan and her two wonderful children.
John Barthelme
I had the pleasure of getting to know both Susan and Bantu during their time here. I enjoyed chatting with them about their classes and their daughters. Susan- you and the girls are in my thoughts and prayers.
Ann Marie Gardinier Halstead
Susan, I was deeply sadden when I received the news about the death of your husband. I know you and your two beautiful children have within you the love and strength that your husband gave to you three to make sense of this situation. Please receive our deepest condolences from us and we send you many hugs and many wishes that you can come with this pain.
Martha Chew
Dear Susan, I am so saddened and shocked by this news, I don't even know how to express this adequately. You have my sincere condolences, may you and your family find the strength you need in this most difficult time.
Esmail Bonakdarian
Dear Susan, My deepest sympathy for you and your family. I remember Bantu as a colleague whose office was just down the hall from mine. We had the occasional conversation, and I was always impressed by how perceptively and thoughtfully he discussed the topic at hand---whether it was a current event or a visiting speaker. His reactions were always so well-informed, intelligent and reasonable. Occasionally, I would enjoy the sounds of Bantu bringing your two daughters to his office. They made the building seem so much warmer and more fun with their visits. This is such a shock for this community, and I hope that you know that our thoughts are with you and your family. Take care of yourselves.
Dorothy Limouze
Love both Susan and Bantu, both great people. This world WILL miss Bantu. I pray we all carry on his legacy. A great man indeed. Susan, you and the girls are in my prayers.
Besi Muhonja
I remember Bantu as a warm and friendly person, always very engaging and a true teacher at any given opportunity. To Susan and the girls, my deepest condolences for your loss.
Mukhaye
Susan - I always enjoyed listening to the wonderful stories you shared about your husband in the grad class we took together. Please know that my love and prayers are with you, your daughters and family.
Tonki Downs
My condolences to Susan and the Gals. Take It Strong Take Heart! Bantu was my lITERATURE AND Theatre classmate in Kenyatta Unversity. Only two weeks ago i saw Bantu on Television discussing Mungiki , Mau Mua and land issues and i had a bad feeling believing his political direction was dangerous when human rights activists are disappearing for talking about land whose topic is being construed to mean Mungiki speciality. I regret i should have warned you Man..Fare thee well my brother. I Remember you directing me in your adaptation of Mwangi Gicheru's Across the Bridge. Alluta Continua!!
Karegwa Muchiri
I am so sorry to hear this news, Susan. I remember meeting your husband and two beautiful daughters at graduation, the smiles, the flowers, and the beautiful white outfits. The photo I took of you by Carnegie Hall will forever be in my memory. Susan, you have many friends at St. Lawrence. Please lean on us as we think of you and support you from afar.
Grace Huang
Susan, I'm so very sorry for your loss. All my thoughts and prayers are with you, your children and the rest of your family.
Tori Meyer '09
We love the mystery and mischeviousness in the poetry of Bantu Mwaura. But the mystery surrounding the circumstances of his death creates suspicion of another sort of mischief. We do not know the answers to this, but we do know that yet another strident voice is taken, a colourful figure is gone from the cultural landscape of Africa. Unafraid to speak out, Bantu's blend of humorous word-play and blunt directness in particular targeted injustice, political corruption, and corporate hegemony of the West. We came to know him during Poetry Africa programme at the World Social Forum in Nairobi in January 2007, and again at the Poetry Africa festival in Durban in 2008. The Centre for Creative Arts expresses condolences to his family and broad community of loved ones. May the flame of his work continue to light creative voices.
Peter Rortvik, Director, Centre for Creative Arts/Poetry Africa
bantu, my friend. you are one of us, us not too many. now seems so few, without you breathing. am utterly sad, angry, shocked. may you be in peace.
Eser
I am very saddened by the passing of Mwalimu Bantu Mwaura. My prayers for continued peace and good health go out to Susan and the two angels left behind.
I first met Bantu and his wife Susan for the first time in 2002, at Athens, Ohio during the African Language Teachers Association (ALTA)Conference where we had passionate debates about language, culture and politics in Africa and Kenya in particular.
We met later en route to Nairobi from Amsterdam after he (and his family) had moved to NYU for his doctoral studies.
As a colleague in the teaching of African languages and literature, the world is a better place because of the bright star that Bantu was throughout his short life and both his colleagues and students both in the North and the South will no doubt also attest to this.
William Shakespeare wrote that for all of us:
All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
As You Like It Act 2, scene 7, 139-143.
Fare thee well Mwalimu Bantu Mwaura, for yours was/is an Act that was worth the life well-lived; in the pusruit for peace and justice for all. Thaai! Thathaya Ngai! Thaai!
Kuria Githiora
I had the good fortune to meet Bantu during a brief visit I made to St Lawrence University in October 2007. It was at a boisterous reception of African Studies students and faculty at the home of Professor Celia Nyamweru and Bantu seemed always to be at the center of one of the party’s hubs of hum and bustle. Nonetheless, after he and I were introduced, we managed to carve out a small realm of conversational space and quickly made a connection. He was planning to go to Kenya that December and offered to personally deliver the DVDs of our films on Kenya to the Human Rights Commission so they could be used in the campaign to support the Mau Mau Reparation Fund. I shall always be grateful for that gesture of solidarity. Though all too brief, my friendship with Bantu gave me his measure: a man full of life, of energy, curiosity, poetry, courage, knowledge, and much more. That is how I shall remember him beyond this wrenching tragedy. May his life and work ins pire us all.
David Koff
There are many memories of him but 2 strike out for KHRC and I. Bantu was instrumental in bring the David Koff trilogy series for me and Mohinder Dhillon when he was in the states about a year or two ago. We met a civil society function and said 'i have something for you from David Koff'. 2 days later he handed over the DVD's to me - and that series formed the basis our our 8 week long publicity project with the Citizen Group.
Secondly during the series he gave us an hour of his time in a fanstastic debate with George Morara on the issue of honouring our heroes and heroines. We shall certainly savour that recording.
Almost 2 years ago we were part of a panel at a litfest discussing the challenges of publishing and distribution for small timers. I at some point mentioned that we faced challenges from 'main stream' publishers. He quickly chipped in and said 'we are main stream' - its a matter of change of pardigm!
Finally whenever we met he always teased me by saying why he was not on my mailing list?!! It was his way of saying 'great to meet you again'.
And now he is gone - we shall remember Bantu for a long long time to come and hope that the magazine 'Jahazi' which i believe was his brainchild will be carried on in his honour.
Thank you Bantu for gracing Kenya's Arts, Performing and literary fields. It was an honour to work with you.
Zahid Rajan
