The Sarit Centre in Nairobi was a bustle of activity last week as Nairobi International Book 2015 the biggest literary show around rolled into town from 23rd to 27th September.
Unlike the Storymoja Festival which happened earlier in the month that focused on writers and their ilk this one was a showcase the Kenyan publishing industry has supported with it to the hilt. This is more like a trade fair for books where publishers showcase their latest titles many of which focused on the next generation of readers. Thus you found many of the stands were very child focused with treats both nutritional (reads sweets or candies depending on your language leanings) and mental. The stands are filled with children’s books both for school and for leisure. The adults weren’t left out on the fun and there were a few publishers who were very keen on their patronage.
Also here at the festival were those people who supplied the publishing industry like printers and the like. The full list of exhibitors who were 56 in total included;
1. Kenyatta University Bookshop
2. Longhorn (K) Publishers
3. Mvule Publishers
4. American Reference Centre
5. Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis
6. Xact Studio International
7. International Bible Students
8. China Stand
9. Queenex Publishers
10. Marimba Publishers
11. Top Performers Ltd
12. Fountain Publishers Ltd
13. Bookmark Africa Ltd
14. Oxford University Press
15. Scholastica Publishers
16. WordAlive Publishers Ltd
17. East African Educational Publishers
18. Kizuki Education Ltd
19. Moi University Press
20. University of Nairobi Press
21. BIBLICA Kenya
22. Spotlight Publishers
23. Care Association and Suzier Publishers
24. Focus Publishers
25. Moran (EA) Publishers
26. Kwani Trust
27. CLC – Christian Booklink (K) Ltd
28. Vide Muwa Publishers
29. Big Books Ltd.
30. Phoenix Publishers
31. Kenya Literature Bureau
32. Evangel Publishing House
33. Laxmi Bookshop
34. Cambridge University Press
35. The Institute of Kiswahili Studies – IKS
36. Manipal Group
37. Text Book Centre Ltd
38. The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation
39. Mountain Top Publishers
40. Spear Sharp Ltd
41. Gabby Books K Ltd
42. Mentor Publishers Ltd
43. Nsemia Publishers
44. Kenya Year Book
45. Alexander Barhardt Publishing Co. Ltd
46. National Book Development Council
47. Universal Offset
48. New Age International
49. CODESRIA
50. Suba Books & Periodicals
51. Kids Learning Centre
52. Success for Africa/Tamika
53. Ekitabu
54. International Print-O-Pac Ltd
55. KU Press
56. Grail Movement Foundation Kenyatta
57. Kenya Publishers Association
58. Quarter Fold Printables – India
59. Strathmore University Press
Apart from the exhibitions which were filled to the brim mainly with school children there were other activities. The publishing industry deals with literature so there were two prize nights with the Burt Awards which went to Chris Okemwa on Friday night and the Jomo Kenyatta Prize which went to many on Saturday.
Apart from the award nights the fair which had a large number of famous guests included book launches and debates on literature in Kenya. There was also a special panel where East African Educational Publishers (EAEP) celebrated their 50th year. EAEP as you know are Ngugi Wa Thiong’o’s Kenyan publishers.
All in all it was a well attended event with the people at the guts of the Kenyan publishing industry.