The African Poetry Book Fund Mourns the Passing of Glenna Luschei

The African Poetry Book Fund mourns the passing of one of its first friends and supporters, poet and philanthropist Glenna Luschei.

Born in 1934 in Sioux City, Iowa, Glenna Luschei (aka Glenna Berry-Horton), was a poet, literary editor and publisher, and cultural philanthropist. She was the author of nineteen collections of poetry, and the publisher of the poetry magazines Café Solo and Solo for forty years. Her honors include a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship; a D.H. Lawrence Fellowship in New Mexico; an Honorary Doctorate of Literature from St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, North Carolina; and a Master of Life Award from her alma mater, the University of Nebraska. She was named Poet Laureate of San Luis Obispo City and County in 2000.

Glenna Luschei was one of the initial supporters of the APBF. In collaboration with Kwame Dawes, she created a fund to help establish our post-publication award, the Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poets. This pan-African Poetry Prize is the only one of its kind and aims to honor and promote African poetry written in English or in translation and to recognize a significant book published each year by an African poet. Winners of this prize include Amu Nadi, Kobus Moolman, Rethabile Masilo, Julian Okot Bitek, Koleka Putuma, Mangalizo Busani, Maneo Mohale, Leila Chatti, Togara Muzanenhamo, and Tawanda Mulalu. Every year, Glenna found much delight in reading the winning author’s book and personally writing to them.

Glenna Luschei passed away on Wednesday, 16 April. Her death was peaceful and she was supported by her family during her passing.

We celebrate Glenna’s beautiful spirit, her generosity, her words and art, her friendship, her consistent support to the APBF and its authors, and her love for global literature. May she rest in peace.