MAISHA YETU
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 […]
Towards the end of May, I could not help but eavesdrop on the excited chatter of two workers of the Kisii County Library as they awaited the official handover of books donated to the institution. Just like excited toddlers that had just received brand new toys from a visiting relative, the two workers could hardly […]
There is something about Mathemboni that makes you want to keep going back. Last Saturday was my third time, since November last year, and it definitely will not be the last. There is a certain aura of peace that pervades the place. Situated on a hilly place, Mathemboni, to those who have never been there, […]
TITLE: In and Outside Africa: A Story of the Human Condition in Africa and the West AUTHOR: Dominik Langenbacher PUBLISHER: Mystery Publishers REVIEWER: Mbugua Ngunjiri In the course of his long and eventful diplomatic service, Langenbacher worked in many places around the globe, but it would appear that Africa had the most profound effect on […]
TITLE: The Odyssey of the Nubi: From soldiers of the British Empire to Full Citizens in Uganda AUTHOR: Moses Ali PUBLISHER: Jescho Publishing House REVIEWER: Mbugua Ngunjiri AVAILABILITY: Nuria Bookstores Uganda, as a country, has had a chequered history marked by leadership struggles informed by much bloodletting. For Kenyans, the much they know about the […]
As 2023 comes to a close, Maisha Yetu would like to appreciate and celebrate the best in terms of books and honour them with the Maisha Yetu Excellence Awards for 2023. For hosting a successful Nairobi International Book Fair, the Kenya Publishers Association, for the second year running, takes the Maisha Yetu Award for the […]
The Affordable Art Show (AAS) is probably the most exciting event in the calendar of Kenyan art events. This is probably the only art show where rank amateurs get to share the same exhibition space with established professionals in the industry. And just like the title indicates, this is about the only place, art lovers […]
Title: Finding Me Author: Viola Davis Publisher: HarperCollins Reviewer: Scholastica Moraa Viola Davis. The woman who set our screens on fire with her act in ‘The Woman King’. Picking this book was a search for who she is, for who she became; for the intricate pieces of what makes this phenomenal black woman. Finding Me […]
Title: The Girl with the Louding Voice Author: Abi Dare Publisher: Sceptre (UK) Reviewer: Cynthia Abdallah It is not enough that the main character Adunni will tug at your heartstrings and make you sympathize with the plight of the girl child in the novel, The Girl with the Louding Voice. Her father’s decision to marry her […]
Short story writers have until May 15 to submit their entries to the Kendeka Prize for African Literature. The call out for submission for the 2023 prize was made on Saturday January 28, during the inaugural Kendeka Lecture, held at the Mount Kenya University. The lecture, titled Why Literature Matters and Literary Prizes Matter, was […]