Kenny Mann was born and raised in Kenya where here parents had arrived as Jewish refugees from Eastern Europe in 1942. In 1968, she graduated from the University of Nairobi with an undergraduate degree in Zoology, Botany and Chemistry. Kenny went on to study all aspects of filmmaking at Bristol University, UK. In 1970, Kenny was employed as researcher and script-writer for a seminal series of documentary films on animal behavior produced in Hamburg, Germany. She also followed a career as an independent filmmaker and free-lance science journalist before moving to the United States. In 1992, she earned a Masters Degree in Education from Manhattan’s progressive Bank Street College, and has since then developed curriculum for all age groups, authored several books for younger readers, made 8 documentary films and taught documentary film at schools in the US and in Kenya. She has also run several teacher training courses.

In 2018, Kenny co-founded the organization called ACACIA MOYO – WHERE TRADITION MEETS TECHNOLOGY, based in Nairobi and in Santa Fe. ACACIA MOYO (ah-kay-sha moy-yo) works with the Maasai community that lives in Kitengela, close to the southern border of Nairobi National Game Park. Our mission is to work in partnership with the local community to develop sustainable livelihoods. We have so far raised funds to support 9 teenagers through high school. We have also initiated a jewelry beading business as well as a bee-keeping/honey-making operation.

Since 2019, Kenny has been working as the Story Editor for a series of young readers’ books published by Storymoja Africa in Nairobi.

For details on Acacia Moyo’s work, please visit: www.acaciamoyo.org

For more information about Kenny and her creative work, please visit her website at: www.rafikiproductions.com