D. Nandi Odhiambo is the author of four novels: Smells Like Stars (Book*hug 2018), The Reverend's Apprentice (Arsenal Pulp Press 2008), Kipligat's Chance (Penguin Canada 2003, St. Martin's Press 2004), and diss/ed banded nation (Polestar Press 1998). He is the recipient of the 2018 Elliot Cades Award for Literature, and he is Associate Professor of English at the University of Hawai'i--West O'ahu. His latest book, The Minoritarian and Black Reason; a Philosophico-Literary Investigation, is a work of literary criticism published by Lexington Books in 2021. Currently, he is working on his forthcoming novel, Amapiano Eyes, scheduled to be published by Book*hug Press in 2025.
Ph.D. University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 2010
M.F.A. University of Massachusetts - Amherst, 2004
B.A. McGill University - Montreal, 1983
Fall 2019-present: Associate Professor
Fall 2014-2019: Assistant Professor
Spring 2012-2014, Instructor
Department of Humanities, University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu
September 2010: Lecturer
Department of English, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
August-December 17, 2010: Lecturer
Department of Humanities, University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu
July-August 2010: Lecturer
Department of English, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
April-June 2010: Lecturer
Department of English, Hawai’i Tokai International College
2006-2009: Graduate Assistant
Department of English, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
2006: Adjunct Professor
Department of English, Cumberland Community College
2000-2003: Teaching Assistant
Department of English, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
ENG 491 WI Senior Project
ENG 440D Major Author: James Baldwin
ENG 414 Fiction Workshop
ENG 412 Nonfiction Workshop
ENG 380 WI Multicultural and Postcolonial Literatures
ENG 332(B) Topics in British Literature: B: British Imperial Adventure
ENG 332C Topics in British Literature: Modernism
ENG 320C World Literature: Short Story
ENG 313 WI Introduction to Creative Writing
ENG 300D DL Topics in Literary Theory: Structuralism and Post-Structuralism
ENG 261 British Literature II: 1700 – present
ENG 240 Intro to Literary Studies
ENG 200 Composition II: Writing on Popular Culture
ENG 100 Composition I: The Personal Essay
Senior Projects Supervised
Bethany Gallarde, "Broken Heart of the Garden: A Short Story"
Aloha Pula, "Peach Lychee: A Short Story"
Claudia Chen, The Blight: A Novel
Lauren Giles, "Hospital Vespers: A Prose Poem"
Thomas Kanemaru, "This Was You: A Short Story"
Michael Nakamura, "The Meandering Journey: A Novel in Progress"
Deanna Richardson, "Triple Potions: A Novelette"
Dezerae Magsayo, “Coming Home: A Short Story”
Alyssa Yoshioka, “Katherine's Choice: A Short Story"
Heaven Medrano-Santiago, "Creative Writing Pedagogy"
Kau'i Abe, “Kalo: A Short Story”
Bryanie Ramirez, “Creativity in the Classroom”
Christina Frolik, “Empty; Surviving Suicide”
Noven Valenzuela Jr., “Xaniety: The Plight of Rappers for Authenticity in the Age of Spin”
Kanani Marcos, "El: A Short Story"
Cheri Richardson, Ice Born: A Novel
Almendro Fernandez, "No Mo Good-bye: A Short Story"
Carla Kahala, "How Come: A Short Story"
Trevor Fernandez, "The Journey of Creative Writing"
Akari Yarrell, "Binary Domain"
Megan Day, "The Process of an Aspiring Writer"
Shane Nishimura, "Redefining Relationships through Subjective and Objective
Binaries in Yi Sang’s The Wings"
Ashley Kapahu, "The Makings of a Modern Woman"
Sarah Largosa, "The Lakes I Built: Fiction and Poetry"
Books
Odhiambo, D. Nandi (2022). Smells Like Stars. Toronto: Book*hug. (Audiobook)
Odhiambo, D. Nandi (2021). The Minoritarian and Black Reason: a Philosophico-Literary Investigation. Lanham: Lexington Books (literary criticism)
Odhiambo, D. Nandi (2018). Smells Like Stars. Toronto: Book*hug. (novel)
Odhiambo, David N. (2008). The Reverend’s Apprentice. Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press. (novel) – long-listed for Re/Lit Book Awards (2009)
Odhiambo, David N. (2004). Kipligat’s Chance. New York: St. Martins Press. (novel) – USA Today pick of notable books (2004)
Odhiambo, David N. (2003). Kipligat's Chance. Toronto: Penguin (novel) – McClean’s Magazine pick of notable books (2003)
Odhiambo, David Nandi. (1998). diss/ed banded nation. Vancouver: Polestar Press (novel)
Anthologies
Odhiambo, David N. (2006). Revival: An anthology of the Best African Canadian Writing. Bailey Nurse, Donna, ed. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart. (excerpt)
Odhiambo, David N. (2005). Bluesprint: Black British Columbian Literature and Orature. Compton, Wayde, ed. Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press. (excerpt)
Odhiambo, David N. (1997). Eyeing the North Star, Toronto: McClelland and Stewart. (short fiction)
Odhiambo, David N. (1996). Beyond the Pale - Dramatic Writing from First Nation Writers and Writers of Color, Nolan, Yvette, Quan, Betty, Seremba, George Sarimba, eds. Toronto: Playwrights Canada Press (excerpt)
Journal and Magazines Articles
Odhiambo, David N. (Spring 2017). "James Baldwin's Another Country as an Abstract Machine" in Pacific Coast Philology (scholarly article)
Odhiambo, David N. (Spring 2010). “Mirage” in Hawaii Review (poetry)
Odhiambo, David Nandi (Spring 2001). “Nyasai,” in Prairie Fire Magazine. (poetry)
Odhiambo, David Nandi (September 1996) TickleAce: A Journal of Literary and Visual Art. (review)
Odhiambo, David Nandi (July 1996) “phunk/ed up” in Mix. (poetry/prose)
Odhiambo, David Nandi (December 1995) “up the lisping staircase” in Blood and Aphorisms. (short fiction)
Buffam, Suzanne, Hahn, Joelle, Odhiambo, David N. (1995) mouth to mouth, Panarky Press (poetry)
Odhiambo, David Nandi (April 1995) “hipp/ed to virgo” in Reverse Shot Magazine. (feature article)
Odhiambo, David Nandi (October 1994) “The Fire this Time” in Reverse Shot Magazine. (film review)
Odhiambo, David Nandi, (July 1994) “up the lisping staircase and acid jazz and nicotine” in TickleAce. (short fiction and poetry)
Odhiambo, David Nandi (July 1994) “blacks/phemic” in Absinthe. (poetry)
2022-2023: The Canada Council for the Arts: Creative Writing Award
Spring 2020: Distinguished Writer in Residence at the University of Hawai'i--Mānoa
May 4/2019: Elliot Cades Award for Literature
Mar 28/2019: Regents Medal for Excellence in Teaching, Nomination,
2010-2011: The Canada Council for the Arts: Creative Writing Award
June 2009: Canada’s Re-Lit Book Awards, Nomination, The Reverend’s Apprentice (novel)
2006-2009: Full Graduate Assistantship, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
2005-2006: The Canada Council for the Arts: Creative Writing Award
September-November 2005: Writing Studio: Residency, Banff Centre for the Arts
2004-2005: The Canada Council for the Arts: Creative Writing Award
2000-2003: Graduate Fellowship, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
2000-2003: Full University Teaching Assistantship, University of Massachusetts
2002-2003: The Canada Council for the Arts: Creative Writing Award
1998-1999: British Columbia Arts Council: Creative Writing Award
1997-1998: National Film Board: Video Award
1997-1998: British Columbia Arts Council: Creative Writing Award
March 1997: The Canada Council for the Arts: Travel Grant
October-November 1996: Writing Studio: Residency, Banff Centre for the Arts
1996-1997: Heritage Cultures and Language Program Grant, Multiculturalism and Citizenship Canada: Creative Writing Award
1996-1997: The Canada Council for the Arts: Creative Writing Award
February 1995: James Mitchener Journey Prize, Nomination, "up the lisping staircase" (short fiction)
October-November 1994: Writing Studio: Residency, Banff Centre for the Arts
1994-1995: Heritage Cultures and Language Program Grant, Multiculturalism and Citizenship Canada: Creative Writing Award
1993-1994: The Canada Council for the Arts, Explorations Grant: Creative Writing Award
1994: The Write Spirit Writers Society's open poetry competition, 2nd Prize, "acid jazz n’ nicotine" (poetry)
1991: The 16th Annual Cecilia Lamont Literary Contest, 2nd Prize, "Canadian Citizenship" (short fiction)
Creative Writing, British Literature post 1700, Postcolonial Literature, Literary Theory, and Philosophy.
The Minoritarian, Black Reason, and the Black-Figure,” Panelist and Paper Presentation, Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association Conference, Los Angeles, CA. November 11- 13/2022
“Matter of Craft Aesthetic Choices and Consequences in Diaspora Narrative,” Panelist and Paper Presentation, Association of Writer's and Writing Programs Conference, Portland, OR (March 28th, 2019)
"Imagining Others: Writing Fiction in English about non-English Speaking Communities," Panelist and Paper Presentation, Association of Writer's and Writing Programs Conference, Tampa, FL March 07-10/2018
Creative Writing: Prose I & II, Presiding Officer and Chair, Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association Conference, Honolulu, HI. November 10- 12/2017
"Towards a Minority Literature in the African Novel," Panelist and Paper Presentation, Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association Conference, Honolulu, HI. November 10- 12/2017
"Unbecoming," Panelist, Poetry Presentation, Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association Conference, Pasadena, CA. November 11/2017
"Notes of a Nomad," Panelist and Paper Presentation, Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference, Philadelphia, PA. February 08- 11/2017
"James Baldwin's Another Country as an Abstract Machine," Panelist and Paper Presentation, Oceanic Popular Culture Association Conference, Honolulu. May 27/2016
READINGS, AUTHOR TALKS, AND INTERVIEWS
Interview, The Writer, Getting to know literature by Anglophone African writers, (March 2023)
Reading & Author Talk, The Minoritarian and Black Reason: A Philosophico-Literary Investigation, Queen's University Cultural Studies Colloquium. (February 10th, 2021)
Reading & Author Talk, Distinguished Writer in Residence, UH Mānoa (April 30th, 2020)
Reading, MIA, Da Shop Bookstore, Honolulu, (December 15th, 2019)
Reading, Teaching Master Class, Writing Place & Displacement, Masterclass, Verb Festival, Wellington, New Zealand, (November 10th, 2019)
Interview, Writing Place, Verb Festival, Wellington, New Zealand (November 9th, 2019)
Interview, Conversation with Tina Makretti, Verb Festival, Wellington, New Zealand (November 9th, 2019)
Reading, The Savage Eye, Verb Festival, Wellington, New Zealand (November 9th,2019)
Reading, What is the Essential Struggle? Verb Festival, Wellington, New Zealand, (November 6th, 2019)
Interview, Radioactive Radio, New Zealand (October 27th, 2019)
Reading, Post Human Novel, UHWO Library (October 10th, 2019)
Reading, Shakespeare & Co., NY, NY (September 15th, 2019)
Reading, Massey Books, Vancouver, BC (September 12th, 2019)
Speech, Reading, Hawai'i Book and Music Festival, Honolulu City Hall (May 4th 2019)
Keynote Address, Ko'olau Writers Workshop, Aloha Tower Marketplace (April 13th, 2019)
Reading, The Waypost, BookHug/Anvil Reading, Portland, OR (March 29th, 2019)
Reading. Words@Manoa, UH Manoa, November 29, 2018, Honolulu, USA
Reading, Panelist. Ottawa International Writer’s Festival. October 27, 2018, Ottawa, Canada
Reading, Panelist. Toronto International Festival of Authors. October 22, 23 2018, Toronto, Canada
Reading, McNally Robinson Bookstore. October 19, 2018, Winnipeg, Canada
Reading, Interview (2018). It's Lit with PHDJ, KTUH FM, April 4, 2018, Honolulu, USA
Reading, Unbecoming (poetry), Brown Bag. April 2017, Kapolei, HI
Reading, Smells Like Stars (novel), Brown Bag. November 2016, Kapolei, HI
Reading, Smells Like Stars (novel), Brown Bag. February 2016, Kapolei, HI
Reading, the slight bookcase, Out Loud in the Library Event. April 2014, Honolulu, HI
Reading, the slight bookcase, Faculty Author Showcase I. March 2014, Honolulu, HI
Lecturer, Lucky, Hawaii International Film Festival. October 2012, Honolulu, HI
Book Tour, The Reverend’s Apprentice, February-March 2009, Across Canada.
Reading, The Reverend’s Apprentice, Revolution Books. October, 2008, Honolulu, HI.
Reading, Panelist, Calgary International Writer’s Festival. September 2004, Calgary, Canada.
Book Launch, (Kipligat’s Chance. “Authors at the Harbourfront Centre.” March 2003, Lecture and presentation. Toronto, Canada.
Featured Writer, Vancouver International Writer’s Festival, Mainstage. October 1999, Vancouver, Canada.
Featured Writer, Vancouver International Writer’s Festival. “Multicultural Writers.” October 1999, Vancouver Canada.
Writers For Change Tour. Fall 1999, Toured Canadian cities and schools to do readings of diss/ed banded nation.Book Tour, diss/ed banded nation. Fall 1998, Toured Canadian cities
Featured Writer (1998). Vancouver Storyteller’s Festival. September 1998, Vancouver, Canada.
Writing Committee