Okot p’Bitek (born Jekeri Okot p’Bitek) is one of the most important early writers in postcolonial Africa whose legacy has endured in large part because of his highly satirical poetry and famous commitment to traditional African culture, both exemplified by his best-known poem Song of Lawino (1966). A multi-talented and notoriously exuberant man, Okot’s many designations in his short lifetime included poet, essayist, novelist, anthropologist, lawyer, footballer, dancer, musician, professor, cultural leader, social critic, and father, no doubt among many others. Born June 9, 1931, in Gulu, Uganda, Okot inherited many of his gifts from talented parents who exposed him to the traditional arts of the Acholi (the primary ethnic …

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Citation: Leman, Peter. "Okot p'Bitek". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 25 June 2010 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3452, accessed 28 March 2024.]

3452 Okot p'Bitek 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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