Maaza Mengiste

Maaza Mengiste is an award-winning author and professor, known for her powerful storytelling and commitment to amplifying silenced voices. Currently, she works as an Associate Professor of English at Wesleyan University, where she teaches creative writing and literature. Maaza’s work as a speaker is driven by her personal experiences of migration, war, and the impact of colonialism on racial and cultural identity. She uses her platform to address issues such as racial equality, women’s roles in conflict, historical memory, and the power of storytelling to foster understanding and social change. Her speaking topics often explore the intersections of race, gender, and history, drawing from her extensive research and literary accomplishments to inspire and challenge audiences.

Maaza’s early career was shaped by her own history as an Ethiopian immigrant who fled her country during the revolution. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from New York University, where she developed her voice as a writer and thinker. Her debut novel, Beneath the Lion’s Gaze, published in 2010, brought critical acclaim and established her as a significant literary voice, focusing on the personal and political upheaval of Ethiopia’s revolution. Alongside her writing, Maaza began teaching and engaging in human rights advocacy, working with organisations such as Words Without Borders and Warscapes. These experiences deepened her understanding of global racial inequalities and inspired her to speak out more broadly on issues of race, identity, and belonging.

In recent years, Maaza has continued to receive international recognition. Her second novel, The Shadow King, was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize and received the Premio Gregor von Rezzori and the Bridge Book Award. She was awarded a 2022 Guggenheim Fellowship and previously received a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship. As a Cullman Fellow at the New York Public Library, Maaza has conducted extensive research into overlooked histories, particularly focusing on the contributions of African women in war. Her short fiction and essays have appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, and The Guardian, further cementing her reputation as a leading voice in global literature and human rights discourse.

Organisations and event organisers hire Maaza because of her unique ability to weave personal narrative with critical discussions on race, gender, and history. As a racial equality speaker, she offers profound insights into the legacies of colonialism, the refugee experience, and the resilience of marginalised communities. Her eloquence, academic expertise, and commitment to justice make her an inspiring and impactful presence at conferences, universities, and cultural institutions worldwide.