5th edition of Kwani? Litfest in full swing

litfest2015

The fifth edition of Kwani? Litfest, a biennial gathering of writers, artists and thinkers from across Africa, is taking place from 1st- 6th December 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya.

This year’s literary festival, Beyond the Map of English: Writers in conversation on Language hosts readings, performances and discussions that explore issues of language and how this relates to African experiences and writing on the continent. Confirmed participants include Nuruddin Farah, Taiye Selasi, Boris Boubacar Diop, Yvonne Adhiambo Owour, Wu Ming, Prof. Aldin Mutembei, FOKN Bois and Siphiwo Mahala.

The Kwani? Litfest will also launch the East African edition of Nuruddin Farah’s book, Hiding in Plain Sight, a novel set in the wake of a terrorist attack that kills a Kenyan UN worker in Mogadishu, published by Kwani Trust. The festival features public lectures by Mr. Farah, Ghanaian and Nigerian novelist, Taiye Selasi, Senegalese writer, Boris Boubacar Diop and Tanzanian scholar and novelist Prof. Aldin Mutembei.

The latest issues of the Kwani? Journal, Kwani? 08, is also set for release during the festival. A book party featuring the Ghanaian music group Fok Bois will introduce this issue, featuring work on the 2010 Kenya constitution, the 2013 general elections and devolution. Featured writers include Paul Goldsmith, Okwiri Odour, Laura Fish, Jackie Lebo and Ngala Chome.

What else can you expect? Over the past few months, Kwani Trust has been working on a collection of narratives from the Coast and Northern Kenya regions; and writers from the Coastal region are expected to feature prominently on programming. Through a partnership with Mabati Rolling Mills, the winners of the inaugural Mabati-Cornell Prize for Kiswahili Literature, who will be announced at the festival.

For the full program, check out http://kwanilitfest.tumblr.com/

 

Sponsored