The Nairobi Book Festival, powered by Nuria Books, will be hosted at the MacMillan Library, Nairobi from November 30 – December 3, 2022.
In Kenya, like in many African nations, the publishing industry is really a textbook printing outfit that focuses mainly on presenting books for the Kenyan education system. Very few books come out of such systems as writers have to go through the sieve of whether their work is suitable for school children. With this in mind, many would-be-authors have opted to go the self-publishing route.
In the recent past, self-published writers have started building a community with launches attended by any from a handful to the hundreds. These writers now have Nairobi Book Festival, a new platform from Nuria Books one of the most popular stores where books are concerned in Nairobi’s Central Business District. The format is less panels and readings and more interacting with and buying books by your favourites and meeting new ones at the MacMillan Library. Here are some of the writers who have confirmed attendance (with many more coming);
1- Levi
2-Ash Jay
3- Eudiah Kamonjo
4- Wanjiru M. Thuku
5- Mutendei Writes
6- Ed Magema
7- Sandra
8- Ciku Kimeria
9- Cynthia Abdalla
10- Clifford
11- Luke
12- Jephtha Malelah
13- Kiruki
14. Mariam Mpaata
15. Faleri Muthoni
16. Jean Kamina
17- Laura Awino
18- Mystery publishers
19- Bob Omamo
20- Anjali
21- Dora
21- Daniel Wamathai
22- Irene Kendi
23- Nyambura
24- Ahmednoor
25- Ciku Kimani
26- Mutendei Writes
27- Catherine Njore
28- Richard Kiundi
29- Victoria Ndeto
30- Poonam
31- Gabriel
32- Thefu
33- Anthony
34- Prince Musau
I was at the event on the third day. I made sure that I spoke with every author or their representative on site. I had hoped that I would display my own book at the event but unfortunately, my publisher hadn’t published my book. Anyway, my day at the event was worthwhile. What’s more, I greeted James Murua as he took photos of the event.