Kai Engelke (1 April 1946 – 6 September 2025) was a German writer, music journalist, reciter, singer-songwriter and teacher.
Kai Engelke (1 April 1946 – 6 September 2025) was a German writer, music journalist, reciter, singer-songwriter and teacher.
Kai Engelke was the son of journalist and author Jooschen Engelke (1918–1962) and painter Robin Mück-Engelke (1909–2000). He was born in Göttingen, grew up in Hildesheim (Lower Saxony) as well as Berlin, and was also based on the North Frisian Island Föhr on the German coast of the North Sea. His formative years were marked by constant change as the family moved to different places in Germany. As a consequence, he was educated at a boarding school in Marburg, attended grammar school in Gießen, commenced his journalistic training with renowned German newswire dpa (Frankfurt/Main) and eventually graduated from Hildesheim University, majoring in educational science. Subsequently, he freelanced with Hildesheimer Presse, taz Bremen and pursued journalistic projects with radio stations such as NDR Hannover and Radio Bremen. Over his career, Engelke contributed essays, commentaries, novels and poetry to more than 100 anthologies.
Between 1975 and 2011, Engelke worked as primary school teacher in Esterwegen, Emsland. From 1981 to 1988, he coordinated the Surwolder Literaturgespräche, a platform for painters, journalists, playwrights, authors and musicians to mix and mingle, attend workshops, perform and be merry. From 2001 to 2007 Engelke was the art director of Bremen-based Landesliteraturtage Niedersachsen/Bremen. Also, he has been active as art director as well as facilitator at the Meppener Krimitage (crime fiction event based in Meppen/Germany) since 2009. He has been facilitating the International Liederfeste at Burg Waldeck since 2011, contributed as jury-member and was in charge of the Liederbestenliste (high score list for world music and folk releases) as well as the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (acclaimed award for best German releases). As longstanding editor he contributed essays, reviews and commentaries for Germany-based folk and world music magazine Folker.
He was a contributing member of the German Writers' Guild Verband Deutscher Schriftsteller (VS) between 1978 and 2014. Over and above of his membership with the Writer's Guild he also worked as executive member being in charge of matters in Lower Saxony. He was a member of the Syndikat since 2005 – an association of German crime authors.
Engelke was married to Ulrike Engelke and a father of five children. He died in Spahnharrenstätte, Lower Saxony, on 6 September 2025, at the age of 79.
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