Dr. Mbugua Wa Mungai

Title/Qualifications: PhD
Department/Unit/Section: Literature, Linguistics, And Foreign Languages
Contact Address: P.O. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Position: Senior Lecturer
Telephone: 020810901 Ext 4457
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Research Project

2020-2022: Youth with disabilities’ lived experiences, aspirations and current livelihoods engagement in Homa Bay and Nairobi counties, Kenya: policy implications and direction.(KU and Sighsavers project)
Ongoing: An assessment of access to formal financial services and products among People with Disabilities in Migori and Nairobi counties, Kenya. (KU and Sighsavers project)

Chapters in peer-reviewed books

Wa Mungai, M. 2013.Nairobi's Matatu Men: Portrait of a Sub Culture.
Kimongo, D.M., Mwai W. and Wa-Mungai, M. 2012.Urban Youth Folklore Genres: Mchongoano, Lambert, Saarbrucken.
Wa-Mungai, M (2010). Iconic Representations of Identity in Kenyan Cultures.
Mbugua wa Mungai and George Gona (ed) Remembering Kenya: Identity, Culture, Freedom, Vol.1, Nairobi, Twaweza Communications, ISBN 9966-7244- 7-8.
Wa-Mungai, M. (2009). Innovating 'AlterNative' Identity: Nairobi Matatu Culture. Kimani Njogu and John Middleton (ed) Media and Identity in Africa, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, ISBN 13: 978-0748635221.
Wa-Mungai,M., (2008) Disability Rhetorics and Identity in Kenya. Kimani Njogu (ed), Culture, Performance and Identity: Paths of Communication in Kenya Twaweza Communications, Nairobi, ISBN 9966724419.
Wa-Mungai, M. (2007) 'Kaa masaa, dangle with spiders': The Myriad Threads of Nairobi Matatu Discourse. James Ogude and Joyce Nyairo (ed), Urban Legends, Popular Culture and Popular Literature in Kenya, Africa World Press,Trenton, N.J and Asmara, ISBN 1592214991.
Wa-Mungai, M. (2007) " 'Ismarwa!' It is ours": Popular Music and Identity Politics in Kenyan Youth Culture. Kimani Njogu and Garnete Oluoch-Olunya (ed) Cultural Production and Social Change in Kenya (2007),Twaweza Communications, Nairobi, ISBN 9966974377.

Research and Publications

Articles in referred journals

Wa-Mungai,M., (2008): Made in Riverwood: (Dis) Locating identities and power through Kenyan pop music; Journal of African Cultural Studies, Vol. 20, No 1 pgs 57-70.
Wa-Mungai, M.,(2007): Tusker Project Fame: Ethnic States, Popular Flows; Journal Of East African Studies, Vol. 1 No. 3 pgs 338-358.
Wa-Mungai,M.,(2005): Nothing but ogre tales: Problems in the Conception and Practice of Folklore in Kenya. Indian Folklife, No.19 pgs 20-24.
Wa-Mungai, M., Samper, D.A., (2006): 'No Mercy, No Remorse': Nairobi's Matatu Mode of Travel and Passengers' Personal Experience Narratives; Africa Today Vol.52, No. 3 pgs 51-81.
Maupeu, H., Wa-Mungai,M., (2006) Les bars Gikuyu de Nairobi. Cahiers de etudes Africaines No. 182 pgs 313-331.

Books

Wa-Mungai, M and Gona,G. (ed) (2014). (Re)Membering Kenya Vol 3: Governance,Citizenship and Economics. Goethe-Institut, Nairobi. ISBN 978-9966-028-50-01
Gona,G and Wa-Mungai,M. (ed) (2013) (Re)Membering Kenya Vol.2 :Interrogating Marginalization and Governance. Goethe-Institut, Nairobi. ISBN: 978-9966-028-40-2
Wa-Mungai M (2013). Nairobi’s Matatu Men: Portrait of a Subculture. Goethe-Institut, Nairobi.ISBN 978-9966-1553-5-1
Wa-Mungai,M. and Gona,G. (ed) (2010). (Re)Membering Kenya Vol. 1: Identity,Culture and Freedom. Goethe- Institut, Nairobi.

Chapters in Books

Wa Mungai,M.(2014): This is a Robbers’ System: Popular Musicians’ Readings of the Kenyan State. Brenda Cooper and Robert Morrel (ed) Africa-Centred Knowledges, James Currey,New York,ISBN 978-1-84701-095-7.
Wa-Mungai,M.(2010a) .Dynamics of Popular Transgression: The Speed Culture of Nairobi Matatu. Danielle de Lame and Ciraj Rassool (ed) Popular Snapshots and Tracks to the Past. Royal Museum for Central Africa,Tervuren. ISBN 978-9-0747-5279-4.
Wa-Mungai,M.(2010b) Dimmina: Matatu Mobility as a Metaphor for Social Survival in Nairobi, Kenya. Koln International School of Design et al (ed) Learning from Nairobi Mobility, KISDedition, Cologne.ISBN:978-3-9812459-3-6
Wa-Mungai,M. (2010c) ‘Soft Power’.Popular Culture and the 2007 Elections. Karuti Kanyinga and Duncan Okello (ed) Tensions and Reversals in Democrastic Transitions: The Kenya 2007 General Elections.SID, Nairobi. ISBN 978-9966-786-13-9.
Wa-Mungai,M. (2010d) Iconic Representations of Identity in Kenyan Popular Cultures. Wa-Mungai,M. and Gona,G. (ed) (2010). (Re)Membering Kenya Vol. 1: Identity,Culture and Freedom. Goethe- Institut, Nairobi.
Wa-Mungai,M.(2009). Innovating ‘AlterNative’ Identity: Nairobi Matatu Culture. Kimani Njogu and John Middleton (ed) Media and Identity in Africa, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, ISBN 13: 978-0748635221.
Wa-Mungai,M., (2008) Disability Rhetorics and Identity in Kenya. Kimani Njogu (ed), Culture, Performance and Identity: Paths of Communication in Kenya Twaweza Communications, Nairobi, ISBN 9966724419.
Wa-Mungai, M. (2007) ‘Kaa masaa, dangle with spiders’: The Myriad Threads of Nairobi Matatu Discourse. James Ogude and Joyce Nyairo (ed), Urban Legends, Popular Culture and Popular Literature in Kenya, Africa World Press,Trenton, N.J and Asmara, ISBN 1592214991.
Wa-Mungai, M. (2007) “ ‘Ismarwa!’ It is ours”: Popular Music and Identity Politics in Kenyan Youth Culture. Kimani Njogu and Garnete Oluoch-Olunya (ed) Cultural Production and Social Change in Kenya (2007),Twaweza Communications, Nairobi, ISBN 9966974377.
Wa-Mungai, M. (2007) “Bodily Contrariness”: Some Preliminary Questions on Disability and Leadership in Kenya. Kimani Njogu (ed) Governance and Development: Toward Quality Leadership in Kenya, Twaweza Communications, Nairobi, ISBN 9966974350.
Wa-Mungai,M. (2006). Hidden Dollarz $ Centz: Working the Wheels of Nairobi Matatu Culture. Helen Charton-Bigot and Deyssi Rodriguez-Torres (ed) Nairobi Contemporain: Les paradoxes d’une ville fragmentee, Karthala: Paris and IFRA: Nairobi, ISBN 2-84586-787-5.
Wa-Mungai, M. (2005).Wahome Mutahi & Kenyan Popular Culture. Herve Maupeu and Patrick Mutahi (ed) Wahome Mutahi’s World, TransAfrica Press, Nairobi, ISBN 9966-940-96-0.
Wa-Mungai,M.(2004) Gikuyu Birth and Death Rituals. Phil Peek and Kwesi Yankah (ed) African Folklore: An Encyclopedia, Routledge, New York ISBN 0-415-93933-1.

Research Reports

Basnet S, Mungai M wa, Chailous A, Okello G, Jolley E, Muuo S and Schmidt E. (2023). Lived experiences, aspirations and engagement in livelihoods of young people with disabilities in Kenya: A peer-led participatory research. Haywards Heath (UK): Sightsavers.
Angwenyi V., et al. ( 2023) .Financial Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities in Kenya: A Rapid Review and Qualitative Study Report. Nairobi: Sightsavers.

Other Publications

Wa Mungai,M., and Muhia,M. (Ed.), 2023. Daughter of Nature and Other Poems. Nairobi: Access Publishers.

Work-in-Progress

Wa-Mungai, M. “Representations of masculinities in Kenyan Popular Culture.”
Wa Mungai,M. “ Beyond Spectacle: Popular Culture’s Agency in Nairobi.”

Participation/Attendance of Conferences/Workshops

2022: Wa Mungai, M. “Twenty Years after the Act: Hits and Misses in Disability Inclusion in Kenya.” Lecture, Abington College, Pennsylvania State University, November 28,2022.
2022: Wa Mungai, M. “Advocating for Students with Disabilities at Kenyatta University.” Presentation at World Disability Rehabilitation Professionals Association Conference, Colombo, Sri Lanka November 11^th -12^th , 2022.
Mwangi P. and Wa Mungai, M.‘Interrogating Language as a Social Bridge Extended to Individuals with Developmental Disabilities: A Critical Discourse Analysis Approach.’ ISA-RC25 Society of Languages International Virtual conference, 15^th-27^th June, 2022
2021: Wa Mungai, M and Muhia,M. “Disability in two Kenyan Popular Films”. Paper presented at the World Disability Rehabilitation Professionals Association Conference, Colombo, Sri Lanka November 10^th-11^th 2021.
2019: Wa Mungai, M and Kamau, A. “Unpacking A Socially Just Public Transport Model for Kenya.” Frederich Egbert Stiftung (FES), Nairobi. November, 2019.
2019: Universities Disability Inclusion Network Workshop, Tangaza University College, July 19, 2019. “The role of University Administrations in Disability Mainstreaming”
2018: Caucus on Disability Right Advocacy Stakeholder Review of the Kenya Persons with Disabilities Act 2003 Repeal Bill, Desmond Tutu Conference Center, Westlands Nairobi, 8 November 2018
2017: -Workshop for the Education and Training Sector Draft Policy On Education and Training and Implementation Guidelines for Learners With Disabilities Nakuru, 20^th-22^nd September 2017.
2017: Draft Policy on Education and Training for Learners With Disabilities", Hotel Kunste, 20th to 22nd September.
2015: Mobilities and Textualities Workshop, University of Cape Town, 19th-30th May, 2015.
2014:Planning workshop for the Cultural Politics of Dirt in Africa, 1886 to the present, University of Lagos, 5th-8th January 2014.
2013:East African Literature and Culture @50 Conference, University of Nairobi, September 2013.-Implementation planning workshop for the Cultural Politics of Dirt in Africa, 1886 to the present, University of Sussex, 29th September-16th October 2013.
2012:Teaching Decolonization and Postcoloniality workshop,University of Cape Town, October 2012.-Africa-Centered Knowledge workshop organized by PERC, University of Cape Town, February 2012.
2010:Keynote Speaker, Cadbury Workshop, University of Birmingham, 6th-8th May,2010.-Planning Workshop for the tripartite ‘Teaching Decolonization and Postcoloniality’ project between Kenyatta University,Free University of Berlin and University of Cape Town, held at the Free University of Berling,18th-20th October, 2012.
2009:The Race in Culture”, a conference held during May 1st-2nd, Mershon Center,Ohio State University,USA.
2009:“Issues in Accessing Higher Education” Fulbright Scholars Conference held on 19th-21st March, 2009 Washington D.C. USA.
2009:The form of Value in Globalized Traditions held on 6th-7th March,
2009:Mershon Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
2008:Interrogating South Asian Masculinities Conference held on 3rd-7th November, 2008, Bellagio Conference and Study Center, Italy.
2008:African Studies Association 51st Annual Meeting “Knowledge of Africa: The Next Fifty Years” held on November 13-16, 2008 Chicago, Illinois USA.
2008:“The wellbeing of black men and masculinities in the United States and Africa”,a scholars network workshop held on 16th -19th May,2008,Serena Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya.
2008:“African youth development through art and technology: The role of African hip hop” conference, held on 13th-15th March, 2008,Harvard University, USA.
2007:Disability, Culture and Human Rights Conference, held on 13th-16th June, 2007, Lenana Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya.
2007:Culture and Identity conference held on February 24, 2007, Lenana Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya.
2004:Media and Identity Conference held on 4th-6th August 2004,Holiday Inn, Nairobi, Kenya.
2003:Colloquium on Popular Culture held during November 27th-December 1, 2003, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg,South Africa.
2001:Annual American Folklore Society conference held during 16th-20th October 2001.

Presentation of papers at academic and professional conferences

Wa-Mungai, Mbugua: “Contours of Sociation among Nairobi Road Users.” Textualities and Mobility workshop, Department of English, University of Cape Town, 20th May 2015.
Wa-Mungai, Mbugua “ ‘Isn’t this a text still?’Contigent Textualities”.Textualities and Mobility workshop, Department of English, University of Cape Town, 23rd May 2015.
Wa-Mungai, Mbugua: “Through a Folklorist’s Camera: Nairobi’s Young Men in (Im)possible positions”, Center for Folklore Studies Annual Lecture held on 1st October, 2008, Mershon Center, Ohio State University, USA.
Wa-Mungai, Mbugua: “Besieged masculinities: Nairobi’s matatu men”,paper presented at the Interrogating South Asian Masculinities conference held on 3rd-7th November, 2008, Bellagio, Italy.
Wa-Mungai, Mbugua: “Youth masculinities in Kenyan urban culture”paper presented at the Scholars Network on “the wellbeing of black men and masculinities in the United States and Africa” held on 16th -19th May,2008,Serena Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya.
Wa-Mungai, Mbugua: “Youth-state dystopia: Hip hop culture as a model for social survival in Nairobi, Kenya”, paper presented at the African Hip-Hop conference held on 13th-15th March, 2008,Kennedy Center for Governance, Harvard University, USA.
Wa-Mungai, Mbugua: “Disability onomastics in Kenyan Cultures”, paper presented at the Disability, Culture and Human Rights conference held on 13th-16th June 2007, Lenana Court Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya.
Wa-Mungai, Mbugua: “Innovating AlterNative Identities: Nairobi Matatu Culture”, paper presented at the Media and Identity Conference held on 4th-6th August 2004, Holiday Inn, Nairobi, Kenya.
Wa-Mungai, Mbugua: ““Kaa Masaa, Dangle With Spiders”: The Myriad Threads of Nairobi Matatu Discourse”. Colloquium on Popular Culture held during November 27th-December 1, 2003, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Wa-Mungai, Mbugua & David A. Samper:“‘No Mercy No Remorse’: Nairobi’s Matatu Mode of Travel and Passengers’ Personal Experience Narratives” paper presented during the Annual American Folklore Society Conference held during 16th -20th October 2001, Anchorage , Alaska, USA.

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