My parents met in Kenya. My father is African, is Kenyan. The Kenyan side of my family was involved in the anti-colonial movement.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I didn't grow up with my Kenyan family. I grew up in a small, conservative suburb of Chicago.
I grew up in Sudan and Kenya, and lived in both the rural and urban centers of both countries throughout my life.
Living in South Africa and periodically coming back to Kenya, my relationship with officialdom in Kenya was just insane.
My father was a professor of political science and also a young politician fighting for democracy in Kenya, and when things got ugly, he went into political exile in Mexico. Then I moved back to Kenya shortly after I turned one, and I grew up in Kenya.
The people I admire unreservedly are my parents. They are the real pioneers of Africa in many ways. They were born and raised in rural Africa during the colonial period. They are the ones who came to the U.S. long before I did.
From 1971 to 1993, my family lived in a number of African countries, including Malawi, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria, as well as Uganda itself.
I didn't do very well when I was at school, so my dad gave me the opportunity to travel in Africa. I drove from London to Nairobi. It was incredible.
My mum is West African, from Senegal; my dad is from Grenada. There was a huge controversy about them getting together.
My father is Indonesian Timorese, my mother Aboriginal Australian.
I was born to a Nigerian dad and a Kenyan mom, and coming to the States was really academic.