Key Points
Michela Wrong is a British journalist and author born in 1961, known for her work on African politics.
She has written several books, including "In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz" and "Do Not Disturb."
She started as a foreign correspondent and now lives in London, with a PhD from Cambridge in 2023.
Michela Wrong, a prominent British journalist and author, has made significant contributions to the understanding of African politics through her extensive career and literary works. Born in 1961 in London, she embodies a blend of British and Italian heritage, which has influenced her multilingual capabilities, including fluency in Italian and French. This biography explores her life, education, professional journey, and personal details, providing a thorough overview for readers interested in her impactful work.
Early Life and Education
Michela Wrong grew up in London, where she was immersed in an environment that likely fostered her interest in global affairs. She pursued higher education at Jesús College, Cambridge, earning a degree in Philosophy and Social Sciences. To further her career in journalism, she obtained a diploma from Cardiff. Notably, in 2023, at the age of 62, she was awarded a PhD from Cambridge for her work on a book about Rwanda, demonstrating her continued academic engagement.
Her family background is academically rich; she is the granddaughter of Oxford historian Edward Murray Wrong and the daughter of nephrologist Oliver Wrong, which may have influenced her analytical approach to journalism and writing.
Professional Career
Wrong’s journalism career began in the early 1980s with Reuters, where she initially covered European affairs. Her role expanded as she served as a foreign correspondent in Italy, France, and Ivory Coast, gaining a broad perspective on international issues. In 1994, she transitioned to Freelance journalism, moving to Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). There, she covered critical events, including the Rwanda genocide and the fall of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, for the BBC and Reuters.
Subsequently, she relocated to Kenya, spending four years as Africa correspondent for the Financial Times from 1996 to 2000, deepening her focus on African politics. Her experiences in these regions formed the basis for her literary works, starting with her debut book, “In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz: Living on the Brink of Disaster in the Congo,” published in 2001. This book, which chronicled Zaire’s transition from Mobutu Sese Seko to Laurent-Désiré Kabila, won a PEN prize for non-fiction, marking her entry into acclaimed authorship.
Her second book, “I Didn’t Do It For You: How the World Betrayed a Small African Nation” (2004), examined Eritrea’s history and foreign influences. In 2009, she published “It’s Our Turn to Eat: The Story of a Kenyan Whistle-Blower,” detailing John Githongo’s anti-corruption efforts in Kenya, which faced distribution challenges in Africa due to its sensitive content. Expanding into fiction, she released “Borderlines” in 2015, a novel set in a fictional Horn of Africa country with disputed borders.
Her latest work, “Do Not Disturb: The Story of a Political Murder and an African Regime Gone Bad” (2021), offers a critical analysis of Rwanda under President Paul Kagame, reflecting her ongoing engagement with the region’s politics. This book, translated into French as “Rwanda: Assassins Sans Frontières,” faced backlash, including event cancellations due to threats from Rwandan government agents .
Wrong’s journalistic integrity was recognized with the 2010 James Cameron prize for work that “combined moral vision and professional integrity.” She is regularly interviewed by major outlets like the BBC, Al Jazeera, and Reuters, and contributes opinion pieces to publications such as The Guardian, Financial Times, and New York Times.
Personal Life and Interests
Residing in London, Wrong maintains a connection to her roots while engaging with global audiences through her work. Her childhood reading habits, such as curling up by the radiator in Highgate, UK, reflect a personal side, influenced by literary figures like George Orwell and Joseph Conrad, whose works shaped her writing style. She values the skepticism and idealism of journalists, missing the life of a foreign correspondent while living in a flat in London.
Her writing process involves researching and writing in bursts, preferring locations like trains and tented camps outside Naivasha, Kenya, over economy plane seats, and she fears material going stale if left too long.This dedication is evident in her nearly 30 years of experience in Great Lakes region politics, initially impressed by the Rwandan Patriotic Front’s narrative but later motivated by personal anger to write “Do Not Disturb” following Patrick Karegeya’s murder in 2013.
Challenges and Reception
Wrong’s work has not been without controversy. Her books, particularly “It’s Our Turn to Eat,” faced resistance from Kenyan booksellers due to fears of legal repercussions, yet found distribution through churches and international orders.”Do Not Disturb” elicited unadulterated fury, with accusations of racism and attempts to “no platform” her, yet also received private support from those who felt validated by her critique.
She acknowledges the risks faced by African journalists, contrasting their dangers with her ability to comment safely from the West, understanding the irritation with white writers on African affairs but emphasizing the necessity of her voice.
Literary and Professional Impact
Wrong’s books are must-reads for diplomats, aid workers, and students of International Relations and African Studies, featuring on university reading lists. She was the literary director of the Miles Morland Foundation, supporting African writers and literary projects, further extending her influence.
Her X handle,
@michelawrong, reflects her active engagement, though specific posts were not detailed in this analysis. Her work continues to provoke discussion, with interviews revealing her resilience against personal abuse and her commitment to objective reporting, despite criticisms from African publications like African Business and The East African.
Tables of Key Works and Awards
| Year | Title | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz | Non-fiction | Won PEN prize for non-fiction, about Zaire |
| 2004 | I Didn’t Do It For You | Non-fiction | Focus on Eritrea’s history |
| 2009 | It’s Our Turn to Eat | Non-fiction | Kenyan corruption, distribution challenges |
| 2015 | Borderlines | Novel | Fictional Horn of Africa, legal thriller |
| 2021 | Do Not Disturb | Non-fiction | Critique of Rwanda under Kagame, controversy |
| Year | Award | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | PEN prize for non-fiction | For “In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz” |
| 2010 | James Cameron prize for journalism | Combined moral vision and professional integrity |
This comprehensive overview highlights Michela Wrong’s enduring impact on journalism and literature, her personal dedication, and the challenges she navigates, providing a detailed portrait for readers and researchers alike.
References