Hay Festival online events

In 2020, Book Bunk set out to better understand Kenya’s public libraries; their histories, collections, architecture, as well as the people who use them. At the time, the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) had listed Kenya as having the highest number of libraries in Africa. We wanted to see them all. Three years later, in 2023, we did just that! We visited every public library in the country.

This presentation-style event shares the story of that journey and what we learned along the way: about the state of our libraries, the communities they serve, and what they reveal about Kenya herself. It also marks the official launch of Book Bunk’s Library Ecosystem Research Report; a milestone publication that maps the present and reimagines the future of Kenya’s libraries. Wanjiru Koinange and Maureen Mumbua in conversation.

Why was it not possible to transform the momentum of the June-July protests into a political movement with a vision and strategy? As the country marks one year since the Gen-Z revolution, what can we learn from the events of that time and what unfolded after? We seek insights from Christine Mungai, News Editor of Pan-African newspaper The Continent and former Curator at Baraza Media Lab; Keith Ang'ana, a writer, editor, and one of the founders of Qwani, a vibrant youth-led initiative and Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). In conversation with Wanjeri Gakuru.

As part of the recording, the hosts will collect public responses to the prompt: “Where were you on 25th June last year?”, capturing personal reflections on a day that marked a pivotal moment in Kenya’s recent protest history.

Hear from creatives telling nuanced stories about Kenyan life through their artist endeavours. Eric Wainaina from the NBO Musical Theatre Initiative has written a brown-black love story filled with original Asian-Kenyan and African-Kenyan sounds. Neddy Amoga shares how Cinema in Nature blends storytelling, history, and forest trails, transporting audiences into the tension, camaraderie, and courage of the Mau Mau movement. Mutua Matheka is an architecture, travel and conceptual photographer and a Ford Foundation (Africa - No Filter) Fellow whose recent project, FRGMNTS presented Nairobi's skyline through immersive images and sounds. In conversation with Ciku Kimeria.

Celebrated poets Michelle Angwenyi, Momtaza Mehri and Willie Oeba explore meaning-making through the written word and recurring motifs in their craft. Momtaza Mehri is a British-Somali poet, essayist, editor, and researcher. Her poetry collection, Bad Diaspora Poems is the winner of an Eric Gregory Award and the 2023 Forward Prize for Best First Collection. Willie Oeba is a Spoken Word artist and 2024-2025 Ford Global Fellow who champions social justice, economic equity, and democracy. In conversation with Abigail Arunga.

In seeking new answers to the issues that plague us, we look to leading intellectuals whose work decenters Western powers and brings to the fore their moral blindspots. Award-winning Zimbabwean writer and historian, Dr. Panashe Chigumadzi, Indian essayist and novelist, Pankaj Mishra and Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist, Joe Sacco gather to explore what it takes to challenge and transcend colonial hegemony. In conversation with Garnette Oluoch-Olunya.