Damus Amazulu "Doc" Kenjyatta

Damus Amazulu Kenjyatta, 86 years of age, departed this life on Monday, February 26, 2018, in Dover, Delaware. He was a retired Professor of English and Theatre at Delaware State University, with a 30 year tenure, which spanned from 1976 to 2006. His birth name was Damon Wilbur Brazwell, Jr., but for cultural and philosophical reasons, he legally changed it to Damus Amazulu Kenjyatta. Damon/Damus, is lovingly called “Doc” by students, friends and family. Born in the small town of Newport, Arkansas, to the union of Wealthy and Damon Wilbur Brazwell, Sr., Damon Brazwell, Jr., began his journey through life. He was the eldest of seven siblings. In 1951, Damon graduated from the “Newport Colored School”…later renamed “W.F. Branch.” Upon graduation, he joined the United States Air Force and served for four years. Afterwards, he received a bachelor’s degree from Philander Smith, a small Black College in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he majored in Philosophy and English and also sang in the College Chorus. Later, Damon relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, where he experienced unexpected hardship. Finally, a much better life emerged, which led to his writing of an Autobiographical Novel entitled Brecht, Weill, and “Three Penny” at Karamu House. In his book, he tells how he worked his way up to getting acting jobs there at Karamu, without having any prior formal training or experience in theatre or music. Damon credited his teachers at the Newport Colored School for giving their students the opportunity to be surrounded by art, dance, music, and theatre, in a broader sense, with assignments to participate in the Friday evening class play performances and annual play festivals. With his theatrical knowledge and expertise, he graciously gave back to his hometown school, by using local talents and putting on play productions, written by him, in support of the school’s reunions. At Karamu, Damon acted on stage as well as performed in Opera productions, which opened up many doors for him to receive more acting jobs and opportunities to work with many well-known professional actors and actresses, such as Adolph Caesar, Chris Christopherson, and John Hillerman, to name a few. After Karamu, Damon studied theatre at Howard University in Washington, D. C., and following, received his Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from the Catholic University, also in D. C. In 1979, he received a Doctorate of Education at Teachers College from Columbia University in New York, New York. Doc was also privy to become Head of the Department of Theatre Arts at the Montgomery Community College in Maryland. This later led him to teaching and directing at the New York Shakespeare Festival and then on to being a Professor at Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware. During Doc’s journey through life, he wrote, produced, directed and presented a multitude of poems and plays. Many manifested as class productions at Delaware State University. One production in particular, “Aristophanic Broads” gave homage and received noteworthy accolades as it was so magnificently performed in New York City at the Apollo Theatre!! Damus was preceded in death by his mother, Wealthy Brazwell; father, Damon Wilbur Brazwell, Sr.; sister, Marilyn Brazwell Brooks; brother, Douglas Brazwell, and son, Udomo Kenjyatta. Doc leaves to mourn his daughters, Gail Walker (Donald), Jackie Blake (Leon), and Afrika Kenjyatta; sons, Claybron Brazwell, Njombe Kenjyatta, Sikani Kenjyatta and Eusi Kenjyatta; sisters, Montrula Brazwell, Millie Wilkes (Rev. Arthur Wilkes) and Vonzell Hood (Stanley); brothers, Mark Brazwell and Manuel Brazwell (Teresa); a host of grandchildren, great grand children, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. He also leaves an unfinished book entitled, “Port of Ports”. The book is centered around his home town of Newport, Arkansas. There are plans for family members to finish and publish it. Doc was truly an Iconic Figure with a mind of Pure Brilliance in the theatre and all around. He leaves an Astounding Legacy and a Huge Footprint as a Professor in the Theatre and English Department at Delaware State University. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Damus Amazulu "Doc" Kenjyatta, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Damus Amazulu "Doc" Kenjyatta

August 24, 1931 - February 26, 2018