From My Mother's Back: A Journey from Kenya to Canada

February 18, 2020
194 pages | ISBN 978-1-928088-73-8

**Longlisted for Canada Reads 2022**

In From My Mother’s Back: A Journey from Kenya to Canada, Njoki Wane introduces us to her mother, a woman of deep wisdom, and to all the richness of a life lived between two countries. A celebrated professor and award-winning teacher, she shares her journey from a Catholic girls’ boarding school in rural Kenya to standing in front of a lectern at the University of Toronto. Along the way she reflects on the heritage that was taken from her as a child and the strengths and teachings of the family that pulled her through and helped her to not only succeed as a scholar, but to reclaim her culture, her history and even her name.

Reviews | Articles | Excerpt | About the Author

Reviews

From My Mother's Back (Kirkus, 20/08/2020)
"The myriad topics covered in her engaging, often inspirational, vignettes range from insightful comparisons of the average kitchens in Kenya to those in Canada to the unique experiences of an African immigrant in higher education."

From My Mother’s Back, by Njoki Wane (Kerry Clare, Pickle Me This, 01/06/2020)
"A wonderful, inspiring and hopeful read."

Articles

The M Word: A Roundup for Mother's Day Part 2 (Kerry Clare, Wolsak & Wynn blog, 06/05/2025)
Njoki's memoir is included in this great roundup for Mother's Day!

Here is the Canada Reads 2022 longlist (CBC Books, 12/01/2022)
Njoki's memoir makes the longlist for Canada Reads 2022!

25 books by Black Canadian authors to read in 2021 (CBC Books, 18/02/2021)
Njoki's memoir makes the CBC's list of books by Black Canadian authors to read in 2021.

CBC Books winter 2021 reading list: 30 Canadian books to check out this season (CBC Books, 15/02/2021)
Njoki's memoir makes this CBC list of 30 Canadian books to check out this season.

Njoki Wane's memoir From My Mother's Back is a story of Black resilience and developing a strong sense of self (CBC Radio, 30/12/2020)
"If we could take a moment and reflect on who we are as humans, we would be able to accomplish a lot in tackling racism in this country." An interview with Njoki Wane.

8 Canadian books we're excited to read in November (CBC Books, 02/11/2018)
Njoki's book named on of 8 Canadian books the CBC is excited to read this November.

ALU Springback: Non-Fiction (All Lit Up, 28/10/2020)
Njoki's book is a notable non-fiction title that All Lit Up want to revisit.

25 works of Canadian nonfiction to watch for this fall (CBC Books, 08/08/2018)
"Njoki Wane is a Toronto-based author and a recognized scholar in the areas of Black feminism and African spirituality. Her memoir From My Mother's Back takes a look at her childhood living in Kenya where her parents owned a small coffee farm. It explores her African identity and how her upbringing and close relationship with her mother ensured her sense of self as a Black woman."

Past Forward: Diverse Voices (Quill & Quire, Jul/Aug 2018)
"Professor Njoki Wane recalls her early years growing up on her parents' coffee farm in Kenya to show how moments in her life, both painful and loving, led to her successful career on the faculty at the University of Toronto."

Excerpt

Read an excerpt from From My Mother's Back.

About the Author

Njoki Wane  is a professor in the Department of Humanities, Social Science and Social Justice Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.