“Exploring Alternative Knowledge Systems”
Last night we were treated to a Fireside Chat between Nigerian author Lola Shoneyin and Somali-British poet Momtaza Mehri. In just a short time, they covered notions of home and identity and of cultural inheritance; the complications of bearing witness; literary foremothers and matriarchal lineage. They discussed how to navigate times like these through creativity. Spoiler alert – Mehri’s answer: with curiosity and disruption! This was a teaser of what to expect this weekend, 27 – 29 June, at Nairobi Litfest.
Lola Shoneyin (L) and Momtaza Mehri (R)
These topics dissected and amplified the greater theme of the Nairobi Litfest: “Exploring Alternative Knowledge Systems”. Festival co-founder Wanjiru Koinange introduced the festival’s exciting concepts. She presented literature as resistance and record; as a reflection of ways of knowledge. She highlighted the need for new ideas and new ways of thinking about society.
With the events of June 25th fresh in everyone’s mind, Koinange and her co-founder Angela Wachuka stressed that rather than cancel the the festival, at this juncture it is rather imperative to continue to show up, to question the narrative given to us by the status quo and to, as Mehri put it, disrupt through curiosity. They did not ignore the elephant in the room, they addressed it, discussed it and we bowed our heads in silence remembering the fallen mashujaa.
Cristina Fuentes La Roche, International Director of the collaborating Hay Festival, took the stage and passionately exhorted the importance of capturing the robust intellectual ideas coming out of global South communities, often discounted by the Northern global community; of South – South exchange; and of reflecting these ideas and narratives in South – North exchange.
As the festival is supported by the British Council’s UK/Kenya Season, we heard from British Council Head of Arts Sandra Chege about their creative programmes which tie into the festival. Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya Leigh Stubblefield told us that NBO Litfest is one of her favourite events on Nairobi’s cultural calendar, highlighting the intellectual creativity of Kenya.
Wanjiru Koinange | Photo Credit: Quaint Photography
Closing the evening, Wachuka championed libraries (her & Koinange’s true passion – their charity Book Bunk which revives Kenyan libraries was the launchpad for the NBO Litfest) as safe spaces for racial thinking and, most importantly, as spaces for communities to gather, learn and share ideas.
The NBO Litfest begins in earnest today, Friday 27 June, with Masterclasses (pre-booked) and a Children’s Festival at Kaloleni Library that is free to all!
We are excited for a jam-packed schedule all weekend touching on so many themes around “Exploring Alternative Knowledge Systems”, with most events taking place at Eastlands Library.
Tonight, Friday 27 June is your chance to see special international guests Aditi Mittal and Lola Shoneyin as they kick off events with an evening of comedy and storytelling at the Trademark Suites.
Don’t forget to add the launch of the first print edition of the publication Africa Is a Country Friday, June 27 · 4 – 8pm EAT. This event will celebrate the release of the edition: Revolution Deferred? 15 Years of Mass Protest in Africa at The Mist at The Mall in Westlands. Register here – it’s worth getting on the waitlist.
The evening, presented in partnership with the Nairobi Lit Fest, will feature panel discussions with authors from Africa Is a Country, and will include our collaborative partner Revolutionary Papers, who will help contextualize the legacy of radical publishing we hope to build on. Afterwards, there will be a free after party featuring a host of exciting guests from the Nairobi music scene. If you can’t make it to Nairobi, the event will be livestreamed by Calotropis Radio.
If you haven’t registered yet for Nairobi Litfest (most events are free!), do it now! Don’t miss this weekend of important, fun and creative discussion and discourse in the heart of our city!