programmewelcome to the 5th edition of our biennial gathering of writers, poets, literary academics...
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Full Programme & Descriptions: kwanilitfest.tumblr.com
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The 2015 Kwani? Litfest is presented in programming partnership with and financial
support from a number of partner organizations, whose support we’re very grateful for.
Special thanks to Lambent Foundation, Stichting Doen, Ford Foundation, Goethe-Institut
and the German Embassy, our 2015 Litfest funding partners.
Welcome to the 5th edition of our biennial gathering of writers, poets, literary academics
and theorists from the continent and beyond. Titled Beyond the Map of English: Writers in Conversation on Language, this year’s festival hosts, among others, Yvonne Adhiambo
Owuor (Kenya), Taiye Selasi (US/Italy/Ghana), Boris Boubacar Diop (Senegal), Wu Ming
(Italy), Prof Aldin Mutembei (Tanzania), FOKN Bois (Ghana), Siphiwo Mahala (South Africa),
Patrick Mudekereza (Congo) and Nuruddin Farah (Somalia) to share their work with writers
from other parts of the continent.
Central to the 2015 Kwani? Litfest is the fact that beyond maps dictated by national
borders and the cartographic memories and claims by ethnic and ancestral hinterlands,
one of the most enduring legacies of the colonial enterprise has been a rearrangement in
the continent along European languages and half a century later, these African language
maps have reconfigured themselves in complex, possibly less structured ways.
We’re excited to be in a number of venues across Nairobi this year and hope that this
unique showcase of workshops, writers in conversation, public lectures, book launches
and performances will break the norm of formal conversations between African writers,
academics, public intellectuals and artists being limited to infrequent engagements either
within the continent or at an international event.
Happy Litfest!
Sincerely,
Angela Wachuka Billy KahoraExecutive Director Managing Editor
Tuesday 1sT december 10.00am – 2.00pm
SympoSium on LAnguAge
Keynote LectureS: prof ALdin mutemBei, KAmAu KiArie
Writers, publishers, media and scholars meet to discuss the
current state of Kiswahili and African language publishing in
East Africa. moderators:
Prof. Kimani NjoguRespondents
Ken Walibora, Rayya Timami, Prof. Rocha Chimera, Billie Odidi
and Toninio.
Invite Only
7.00pm - 9.30pm phoenix playeRs
KWAni? open mic: KiSWAhiLi And Sheng editionThis special edition will feature two poets working exclusively
either in sheng or swahili. participants
Poets Jicho Pevu, Mamboleo and KIU Charges
Advance Kes. 200 only on Mpesa. Go to “Buy Goods”: 56714 Gate: Kes. 300 MC: Cindy Ogana
Full Programme & Descriptions: kwanilitfest.tumblr.com
Wednesday 2nd december 1.00- 3.00pm DaysTaR univeRsiTy
community outreAchSiphiwo Mahala, Patrick Mudekereza and Yvonne Adhiambo
visit Daystar University to discuss all things writing.
2.30pm – 4.00pm KenyaTTa univeRsiTy
Keynote Lecture - prof. ALdin mutemBeiOpening performance by Abdilatif Abdalla
Prof. Aldin Mutembei talks about his work in the context of the
future of Swahili writing in the region. This session will also
feature a performance by Kenyan poet Abdilatif Abdalla. participants
Prof. Aldin Mutembei, Prof. Kimani Njogu, Abdilatif Abdalla
6.00pm - 7.30pm Kenya naTional TheaTRe
pAneL diScuSSion on LAnguAgeLanguage and its changing relations to African experience and
writing on the continent . participants
Siphiwo Mahala, Patrick Mudekereza, Yvonne Adhiambomoderator
Mukoma Wa Ngugi
7.30pm - 9.00pm Kenya naTional TheaTRe
puBLic Lecture: tAiye SeLASi – cApturing AfricAn WorLdS
Acclaimed Ghanaian-Nigerian writer Taiye Selasi talks about
her work and straddling different language worlds to capture
African experiences. participants
Taiye Selasi
Thursday 3rd december 10.00am -12.00pm
meet Wu mingitalian literary phenomenon and collective, Wu ming meet local
writers to talk about the writing craft, method and process.
invite onlyPlease email [email protected] for enquiries.
11.00am - 1.00pm DusiTD2
KWAni? LitfeSt preSS conferenceinformal meet and greet between visiting writers and local media
participantsVisiting Writers, Press
2.30pm - 4.00pm univeRsiTy of naiRobi
Keynote Lecture - nuruddin fArAh Renowned african writer nuruddin farah talks about his writing and connecting to african experiences through different language-
worlds.
participantsNuruddin Farah
moderatorDr Tom Odhiambo
7:30 pm
KWAni truSt’S gALA Kwani hosts the winners of the inaugural mabati-Cornell Kiswahili prize for african literature. Readings by
Taiye selasi, Ken Walibora, siphiwo mahala
Mabati-Cornell Kiswahili Prize for African Literature presentation Auction and Entertainment
Full Programme & Descriptions: kwanilitfest.tumblr.com
Friday 4Th december 10.00am-12.00pm
the WAy of the crAft: miKhAiL ioSSeLCanadian – Russian Writer and sls founder mikhail iossel meets local writers to talk about the writing craft, method and
process.
invite onlyPlease email [email protected] for enquiries.
2.00pm – 5.00pm allianCe fRanCaise
puBLic Lecture - BoriS BouBAcAr diop: Why engLiSh? Why french? the LAnguAge of empire And the AfricAn nArrAtive acclaimed senegalese Writer talks about his literary work and the influence of different language worlds on his writing.
participantsBoris Boubacar Diop
moderatorWandia Njoya
pAneL diScuSSionmr Diop is joined by Congolese writer patrick mudekereza to talk about writing the african experience and imagination in european languages.
participantsBoris Boubacar Diop, Patrick Mudekereza
6.00 – 7.30 pm KWani TRusT
mABAti-corneLL KiSWAhiLi prize for AfricAn LiterAture WinnerS in converSAtion With muKomA WA ngugi
Participants: Anna Samwel, Mohammed K. Ghassani, Enock Maregesi and Christopher Bundala Budebah.
moderatorMukoma Wa Ngugi
7.45pm – 9.30 pm KWani TRusT
pAneL diScuSSion 2 – neW contemporAry nArrAtiveS – eScAping the StrAitjAcKet of genre.
Where do fiction and non-fiction meet?
participantsWu Ming 1, Mikhail Iossel
moderatorBilly Kahora
Full Programme & Descriptions: kwanilitfest.tumblr.com
saTurday 5Th december 2.00pm- 4.00pm KWani TRusT
BooK LAunch: Hiding in Plain Sight, nuruddin farahnuruddin farah in conversation with Tom maliti on his new book partly set in nairobi, exploring themes of family, freedom, and loyalty.
participantsNuruddin Farah, Tom Maliti
8.00pm The elephanT
Love concert: KWAni? for BinyAvAngA feAt foKn BoiS + friendS
Benefit party in aid of our beloved Binyavanga Wainaina’s Medical Fund, established following his stroke and hospital stay. For more information on Binyavanga’s medical condition, please visit www.kwani.org. FOKN Bois lead an evening of love, literature and good vibes as we raise funds.
LAunch of KWAni? 08: The latest journal, Kwani? 08 explores the 2013 elections, the campaigns, questions around IDPs, the Constitution and how all these things could be connected to our current political reality in Kenya.Readings by Siphiwo Mahala and featured Kwani? 8 writers.
Advance tickets Kes. 1,500 (via www.ticketsasa.com)Gate: Kes. 2,000
Entry ticket comes with option of Kwani? 08, hiding in plain sight by Nuruddin Farah or Taty Went West by Nikhil Singh.
sunday, 6Th december 1.00pm –3.00pm easTleigh high sChool
eAStLeigh outreAch acclaimed writer nuruddin farah meets local eastleigh
communities to talk about all things writing. participants
Nuruddin Farah and Yusuf Hassan.
2.30pm (unTil laTe) KWani TRusT
KWAni? SundAy SALon And fAreWeLL pArty pAneL diScuSSion 1acclaimed writer Ken Walibora in conversation.
pAneL diScuSSion 2: Sheng, pidgin, pAtoiS,
And AfricAn LAnguAgeS What is the place of new urban languages in formal writing
and publishing?
participantsGo Sheng, Jalada, Patrick Mudekereza, Fokn Bois
SeSSion 2: reAdingSWriters from all over the world share their work with
Kenyan audiences.
participantsSiphiwo Mahala, Boris Boubacar Diop, Mikhail Iossel
Full Programme & Descriptions: kwanilitfest.tumblr.com
the 2015 KWAni? LitfeSt iS deLivered in pArtnerShip With
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