Nairobi International Book Fair 2020 starts on September 24.

The Nairobi International Book Fair 2020, which is virtual this year, runs from September 24-26, 2020. The fair’s theme is “Any Book, Anywhere.”

The Nairobi International Book Fair is one of the most important book events on the African continent and arguably the most notable in East Africa. It was founded by the Kenya Publishers Association as a trade fair in 1996; publishers meet and do deals and readers get books at discounted prices. Following proceedings at the bonanza have always been students, teachers, scholars, authors, intellectuals, librarians, and book lovers in Kenya and across the region.

The fair this year is being run virtually which is a nod to the Covid-19 restrictions that have taken large public events off the table in Kenya. The events scheduled this year, unlike in previous years which were focused on mainly business people, are as literary-festival-like as they have ever been. There is a portal where you can follow proceedings just like with our friends in South Africa a few days ago.

What you will get when you attend this year’s fair, which is free for those who register at the portal, is an opening ceremony with officials from both the government and the Kenya Publishers Association, and special guests that will be revealed on the day. This opening ceremony will be followed by events with delegates in many parts of the Kenyan publishing infrastructure like those in technology, distribution, and other important areas. Writing too. Kinyanjui Kombani will be doing sessions sharing his experience publishing in Kenya.

It’s not just adults who will be catered to at this fair. There will be a children’s program conducted by Storymoja Publishers that will include English and Kiswahili book club sessions for young children hosted by Reading Revolutionaries and authors. They will lead the children in reading aloud, discussing, singing, and doing fun activities inspired by the book of the day and the book reviews children fill in their reading diary. There will be other events hosted by Faith Inyanchi, Shaleen Keshavjee-Gulam, Gregory Omondi, Karimi Gatimi, Gregory Omondi, and Festus Korir.

As mentioned earlier, this is a free event. You will need to register for it at the official fair website to access the content here.

See y’all on Thursday.