WRITER
Binyavanga Wainaina
1971 - 2019

Binyavanga Wainaina
Kenneth Binyavanga Wainaina (18 January 1971 – 21 May 2019) was a Kenyan author, journalist and 2002 winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing. In 2003, he was the founding editor of Kwani? literary magazine. In April 2014, Time magazine included Wainaina in its annual Time 100 as one of the "Most Influential People in the World". Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in 19 different languages on Wikipedia. Binyavanga Wainaina is the 7,319th most popular writer (down from 7,124th in 2024), the 117th most popular biography from Kenya (down from 91st in 2019) and the 4th most popular Kenyan Writer.
Memorability Metrics
Page views of Binyavanga Wainaina by language
Among WRITERS
Among writers, Binyavanga Wainaina ranks 7,319 out of 7,302. Before him are Michael Schur, Ottessa Moshfegh, Maggie Stiefvater, Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, Andrew Sean Greer, and Kass Morgan. After him are Kelly Link, Eleanor Catton, Baby Halder, Maarja Kangro, Shi Tao, and Craig Thomas.
Most Popular Writers in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsMichael Schur
1975 - Present
HPI: 41.20
Rank: 7,313
Ottessa Moshfegh
1981 - Present
HPI: 41.18
Rank: 7,314
Maggie Stiefvater
1981 - Present
HPI: 41.04
Rank: 7,315
Marieke Lucas Rijneveld
1991 - Present
HPI: 40.99
Rank: 7,316
Andrew Sean Greer
1970 - Present
HPI: 40.98
Rank: 7,317
Kass Morgan
1984 - Present
HPI: 40.97
Rank: 7,318
Binyavanga Wainaina
1971 - 2019
HPI: 40.96
Rank: 7,319
Kelly Link
1969 - Present
HPI: 40.95
Rank: 7,320
Eleanor Catton
1985 - Present
HPI: 40.92
Rank: 7,321
Baby Halder
1973 - Present
HPI: 40.91
Rank: 7,322
Maarja Kangro
1973 - Present
HPI: 40.87
Rank: 7,323
Shi Tao
1968 - Present
HPI: 40.83
Rank: 7,324
Craig Thomas
1971 - Present
HPI: 40.83
Rank: 7,325
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1971, Binyavanga Wainaina ranks 1,114. Before him are Mike Wengren, Zaal Udumashvili, Jari Mantila, Fredro Starr, Questlove, and Stephan Volkert. After him are Andrei Fyodorov, Yasuo Manaka, Mikael Damberg, Joe-Max Moore, Marc Houtzager, and Tomomi Okazaki. Among people deceased in 2019, Binyavanga Wainaina ranks 639. Before him are Walter Martínez, Don Imus, Chester Williams, Adam Svoboda, Kristoff St. John, and Jan Dydak. After him are Yelena Grigoryeva, Nadia Toffa, Bjorg Lambrecht, Eva Moser, Isaac Promise, and Sergei Karimov.
Others Born in 1971
Go to all RankingsMike Wengren
MUSICIAN
1971 - Present
HPI: 41.05
Rank: 1,108
Zaal Udumashvili
POLITICIAN
1971 - Present
HPI: 41.04
Rank: 1,109
Jari Mantila
ATHLETE
1971 - Present
HPI: 41.03
Rank: 1,110
Fredro Starr
SINGER
1971 - Present
HPI: 41.01
Rank: 1,111
Questlove
MUSICIAN
1971 - Present
HPI: 41.00
Rank: 1,112
Stephan Volkert
ATHLETE
1971 - Present
HPI: 40.99
Rank: 1,113
Binyavanga Wainaina
WRITER
1971 - 2019
HPI: 40.96
Rank: 1,114
Andrei Fyodorov
SOCCER PLAYER
1971 - Present
HPI: 40.95
Rank: 1,115
Yasuo Manaka
SOCCER PLAYER
1971 - Present
HPI: 40.92
Rank: 1,116
Mikael Damberg
POLITICIAN
1971 - Present
HPI: 40.92
Rank: 1,117
Joe-Max Moore
SOCCER PLAYER
1971 - Present
HPI: 40.89
Rank: 1,118
Marc Houtzager
ATHLETE
1971 - Present
HPI: 40.88
Rank: 1,119
Tomomi Okazaki
SKATER
1971 - Present
HPI: 40.88
Rank: 1,120
Others Deceased in 2019
Go to all RankingsWalter Martínez
SOCCER PLAYER
1982 - 2019
HPI: 42.12
Rank: 633
Don Imus
PRESENTER
1940 - 2019
HPI: 41.96
Rank: 634
Chester Williams
RUGBY PLAYER
1970 - 2019
HPI: 41.34
Rank: 635
Adam Svoboda
COACH
1978 - 2019
HPI: 41.30
Rank: 636
Kristoff St. John
ACTOR
1966 - 2019
HPI: 41.24
Rank: 637
Jan Dydak
ATHLETE
1968 - 2019
HPI: 41.12
Rank: 638
Binyavanga Wainaina
WRITER
1971 - 2019
HPI: 40.96
Rank: 639
Yelena Grigoryeva
SOCIAL ACTIVIST
1978 - 2019
HPI: 40.94
Rank: 640
Nadia Toffa
PRESENTER
1979 - 2019
HPI: 40.59
Rank: 641
Bjorg Lambrecht
CYCLIST
1997 - 2019
HPI: 40.39
Rank: 642
Eva Moser
CHESS PLAYER
1982 - 2019
HPI: 40.32
Rank: 643
Isaac Promise
SOCCER PLAYER
1987 - 2019
HPI: 39.50
Rank: 644
Sergei Karimov
SOCCER PLAYER
1986 - 2019
HPI: 39.28
Rank: 645
In Kenya
Among people born in Kenya, Binyavanga Wainaina ranks 117 out of 150. Before him are Julius Yego (1989), Victor Wanyama (1991), Janeth Jepkosgei (1983), Abraham Kibiwot (1996), Benjamin Limo (1974), and Edna Kiplagat (1979). After him are Priscah Jepleting Cherono (1980), Paul Bitok (1970), Mubarak Hassan Shami (1980), Beatrice Chepkoech (1991), Pauline Konga (1970), and Erick Wainaina (1973).
Others born in Kenya
Go to all RankingsJulius Yego
ATHLETE
1989 - Present
HPI: 41.47
Rank: 111
Victor Wanyama
SOCCER PLAYER
1991 - Present
HPI: 41.31
Rank: 112
Janeth Jepkosgei
ATHLETE
1983 - Present
HPI: 41.24
Rank: 113
Abraham Kibiwot
ATHLETE
1996 - Present
HPI: 41.15
Rank: 114
Benjamin Limo
ATHLETE
1974 - Present
HPI: 41.02
Rank: 115
Edna Kiplagat
ATHLETE
1979 - Present
HPI: 41.02
Rank: 116
Binyavanga Wainaina
WRITER
1971 - 2019
HPI: 40.96
Rank: 117
Priscah Jepleting Cherono
ATHLETE
1980 - Present
HPI: 40.87
Rank: 118
Paul Bitok
ATHLETE
1970 - Present
HPI: 40.86
Rank: 119
Mubarak Hassan Shami
ATHLETE
1980 - Present
HPI: 40.81
Rank: 120
Beatrice Chepkoech
ATHLETE
1991 - Present
HPI: 40.68
Rank: 121
Pauline Konga
ATHLETE
1970 - Present
HPI: 40.61
Rank: 122
Erick Wainaina
ATHLETE
1973 - Present
HPI: 40.58
Rank: 123
Among WRITERS In Kenya
Among writers born in Kenya, Binyavanga Wainaina ranks 4. Before him are Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (1938), Philippa Gregory (1954), and Grace Ogot (1930). After him are Warsan Shire (1988).
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
1938 - 2025
HPI: 65.77
Rank: 1
Philippa Gregory
1954 - Present
HPI: 57.18
Rank: 2
Grace Ogot
1930 - 2015
HPI: 45.33
Rank: 3
Binyavanga Wainaina
1971 - 2019
HPI: 40.96
Rank: 4
Warsan Shire
1988 - Present
HPI: 31.21
Rank: 5




















































