Mission, vision, values About Us
We are dedicated to the advancement of Pan Africanism, Orature, Creative Expression and Critical Human Rights.
As a global non-profit, we strive to cultivate a more equitable and inclusive world by igniting the flames of knowledge and creativity.
Our mission
Rooted in preserving the legacy of the late Professor Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo, the foundation strives to cultivate a world where the flames of knowledge illuminate the path to empowerment, empathy, and excellence.
Through engagement, education, and advocacy, we aim to champion the values of Utu, thereby fostering a harmonious and
just society for all.
Our vision
We envision a world where the vibrancy of Africana voices resonates across continents, where the echoes of ancestral wisdom guide us towards equitable societies, and where every individual is empowered to shape her/his/their destiny.
The Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Foundation seeks to be a beacon of inspiration, an incubator for boundless imagination, a catalyst for critical dialogue, and a sanctuary for the treasures of Africana expression.
Our values
At the heart of the Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Foundation lies a profound commitment to the ideals that defined the life and work of Professor Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo. Our values are more than guiding principles—they are the foundation upon which we build a future of justice, knowledge, and creative liberation. Rooted in Pan-African thought and inspired by the indomitable spirit of those who have paved the way before us, we embrace the responsibility of shaping an equitable, empowered world.
Each of the values below reflects a deep-seated belief in human dignity, intellectual and artistic excellence, and the unwavering pursuit of truth. They guide our work, inspire our collaborations, and challenge us to remain steadfast in our mission to uplift, educate, and transform.
Utu
Utu
Empowerment
Empowerment
Excellence
Excellence
Diversity
Diversity
Courage
Courage
Areas of engagement
Igniting Minds, Inspiring Change, Advancing Justice.
The Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Foundation stands at the crossroads of thought and action, championing the transformative power of knowledge, culture, and justice. Rooted in the rich legacies of Pan-Africanism and Africana intellectual traditions, our work spans literature, artistic expression, education, advocacy, and community empowerment. Through these five core areas of engagement, we affirm our commitment to critical thought, creative resistance, and the liberation of voices. Each initiative is a call to action—an invitation to build a world where Africana curiosity flourishes, and where justice, dignity, and self-determination thrive.
Honoring the late Professor Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo
These year round engagements honor the late Professor Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo’s commitment to intellectual discourse and critical exchange. Distinguished thought leaders from across the globe convene to explore pressing issues related to Pan-Africanism, Orature, Creative Expression, and Human Rights. Through these presentations, we aim to incubate new sites of knowledge, inspire new paradigms of thought and actionable solutions that lead us toward a better world.
“…we must allow ideas to argue; to debate; to converse… and yes, let us even allow them to stand in contestation with each other – not out of antagonistic differences or negative competition; but rather, for the sake of heightening debate.”
Nurturing emerging talents
In the spirit of mentorship and nurturing emerging talents, the Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Fellowship supports scholars, artists, and activists who embody the ideals championed by the late Professor Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo. By providing resources, mentorship, and a platform for expression, we aim to cultivate a network of changemakers dedicated to advancing the foundation’s core values.
“…we must find ways of forming intellectual partnerships with our communities so that ordinary people become participants and generators in knowledge production.”
Heralding an ancient art form
Celebrating the power of oral storytelling as a vessel for cultural transmission, the Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Prize for Orature recognizes outstanding works that encapsulate the essence and experiences.
Through this prestigious award, we seek to elevate voices that amplify the diverse and authentic stories of the global African experience.
“African orature and the performing arts constitute the core of the authentic art forms that bring us closest to the heart of African people’s self-expression and practice.”
Actively engaging in social progress
The foundation actively engages in public advocacy, lending its voice to issues that align with its core values. By collaborating with partners, raising awareness, and advocating for policy changes, we work towards dismantling barriers to justice, equity, and social progress, forging a path towards a more just and equitable world.
“…we did not make it to where we are alone; that in actual fact we are products and extensions of our communities and that, above all, we are products of the years of historical struggles waged by people before us.”
Spreading knowledge
Serving as a repository and preservatory of the physical/digital and intellectual collections of the late Professor Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo, the foundation provides an information resource on the life of Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo, access to her writings and publications, and use of intellectual property.
“In the interest of communication and popular consumption, my discourse will be conducted in plain language, shorn of postmodernist jargon, academic enigmatism, and other forms of intellectual mystification. We badly need to converse.”
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