Following the successful completion of the African Book Fair, held at the Kenya National Library Services (Maktaba Kuu), we sought out Wendy Njoroge, the co-convener of the event.
She answered our four burning questions, below…
MAISHA YETU: Did the fair meet your expectations?
WENDY NJOROGE: Yes, and in many ways, it exceeded them. We saw an incredible turnout, vibrant discussions, and strong book sales across all genres. The energy was electric, from the opening ceremony at the Colombian Embassy to the last storytelling session and it reaffirmed why we do this work.
QUESTION: What is the one thing about this year’s fair that will linger in your mind for a long time?
ANSWER: The image that will stay with me is watching a group of children, eyes wide with wonder, gleefully filling their baskets. Their excitement was pure and contagious. It reminded me that beyond the logistics and planning, the heart of the Fair is about sparking that joy and connection.
Q: What was the most interesting feedback you got from the Fair?
A: One attendee told me, “This doesn’t feel like a Kenyan book event. It feels like we’re at a world-class literary festival, right here at home.” That comment encapsulated our vision: to create something that is proudly African yet globally relevant, and to do it with excellence.
Q: Important lessons to carry forward to next year’s event.
A: We have learned the importance of scaling up infrastructure to match our growing audience. That means more seating, more signage, and even more targeted programming for different reader groups. Most importantly, we will keep deepening our Pan-African collaborations, because that is where the magic happens.