This 4th edition of NBO Litfest, co-presented by Book Bunk and Hay Festival Global, brings together writers, artists and thinkers to explore alternative knowledge systems. Scheduled for 26 - 29 June 2025 in Nairobi’s public libraries; McMillan Memorial Library, Kaloleni Library and Eastlands Library, the festival presents inspiring thoughts and perspectives from the worlds of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, music, visual arts and governance. Book your tickets here.
Wanjiru Koinange, Angela Wachuka and Keith Ang'ana in conversation
A Palace for The People: Where were you on June 25th?
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Green Bunk Stage
Book Bunk founders Angela Wachuka and Wanjiru Koinange host a special live edition of their podcast, A Palace for the People, an exploration of culture and history through shared memory. This interactive session traces the evolution of protest in Kenya as a powerful form of self-expression, resistance, and change, while reflecting on the role of public libraries as both witnesses to and participants in civic action. As part of the recording, the hosts will speak to Keith Ang'ana, Founder of Bunge La Mayut, a platform created for young people to gather and discuss the political affairs of the nation. They will also 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.
Sen. Crystal Asige in conversation with Mamka Anyona
Worth fighting for
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Green Bunk Stage
Discussing disability advocacy and how to create real change with SenatorCrystal Asige. She is an inclusive mobility expert, accessibility auditor, and award-winning musician. The 2024 TIME 100 Next honoree was nominated to the 4th Senate in the 13th Parliament of Kenya to represent persons with disabilities and Special Interest Groups. Senator Asige has been recognised as a “top performing senator” for two consecutive years with five Bills to her name. In conversation with Mamka Anyona.
Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia in coversation with Ngartia
Book Talk: 'Kifo Kisimani'
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Book Talk Stage
Prof.Kithaka wa Mberiatalks all things Kifo Kisimani (Death at the Well), a play about the resilience of everyday people in the face of tyranny. The text that once served as a secondary school setbook in the mid-2000s and is set for a possible stage revival. In conversation with Ngartia.
Prof. Rinaldo Walcott with Mohamed Amin Abdishukri
Reversing cultural erosion
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Ikulu Stage
Prof. Rinaldo Walcott, whoseresearch focuses on the cultural expression of Black life, explore the importance of recovery of indigenous identities and traditional knowledge within marginalised communities to harness social, economic and cultural power. In conversation with Mohamed Amin Abdishukri.
This event has taken place
With the support of the Ford Foundation-Malunga: Network for Global Justice
Dipo Faloyin in conversation with Astrid Madimba and Chinny Ukata
Book Talk: 'Africa Is Not a Country'
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Book Talk Stage
A chat with Dipo Faloyin, a Nigerian journalist and author of non-fiction novel, Africa Is Not a Country on how his book seeks to reverse the simplistic and stereotypical depictions of the continent. In conversation with Chinny Ukataand Astrid Madimba.
This event has taken place
With the support of Open Society Foundations, South to North series
An interview with James Rugami affectionately known as the “Real Vinyl Guru” and a mainstay in Kenya’s musical landscape. Mr. Rugami has run a record store in Nairobi since 1989. In conversation with Ras Mengesha.
Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia and Jane Obuchi in conversation with Francis Mutegi
Mother tongue on the page
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Green Bunk Stage
Spotlight on literary publishing challenging English hegemony withProf.Kithaka wa Mberia and Jane Obuchi. Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia is a prolific Kiswahili poet and dramatist writer who teaches Linguistics and Languages at the University of Nairobi.Jane Obuchi is a writer, researcher, and teacher who has published a novel, a collection of children’s short stories in Ekegusii and a dictionary of Ekegusii phrasal verbs. In conversation with Francis Mutegi.
Ntone Edjabe and Billy Kahora in conversation with Augustin Trapenard
Experiments in pedagogies
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Ikulu Stage
A conversation with publishers Ntone Edjabeand Billy Kahora who have adopted subversive approaches to the development of creative work across music, film, teaching and publishing. In conversation with Augustin Trapenard.
Ayanna Lloyd Banwo in conversation with Lilly Bekele-Piper
Book Talk: 'When We Were Birds'
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Book Talk Stage
Ayanna Lloyd Banwo discusses her award-winning debut novel, When We Were Birds, a mythic love story set in Trinidad and Tobago. In conversation with Lilly Bekele-Piper.
Neddy Amoga, Mutua Matheka and Eric Wainaina with Ciku Kimeria
For the people, by the people
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Green Bunk Stage
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 Amogashares 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.
JoinDennis Mugaa as he discusses his debut short story collection, Half Portraits Under Water which features ten loosely interlinked stories that explore love, loss, and the interconnected nature of human experiences. In conversation with Muthoni Muiruri.
French-Moroccan author Leïla Slimanidiscusses her latest work, The Devil is in the Detail and other writings, a collection of stories and essays examining key topics including Islam and fundamentalism, the importance of literature, and Paris as a symbol of freedom and tolerance. In conversation with Mukami Kowino.
This event has taken place
Supported by Open Society Foundations, South to North project, with the support for the Embassy of France and Alliance Française de Nairobi
Michelle Angwenyi, Momtaza Mehri and Willie Oeba in conversation with Abigail Arunga
Balm for a world on fire
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Green Bunk Stage
Celebrated poets Michelle Angwenyi, MomtazaMehriandWillie Oebaexplore 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 Koli Jean Bofane in conversation with Nteranya A. Sanginga
Retrospective on a career
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Green Bunk Stage
Born in 1954 in Mbandaka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire), In Koli Jean Bofaneis an award-winning writer and exhibit curator whose work has been praised for exhibiting a cynical sense of humour and rebellious wit. His first work, Pourquoi le lion n’est plus le roi des animaux (Why the lion is no longer king of the animals) was published in 1996. Bofane’s work has been awarded the Prix Jean Muno (2008), the Prix littéraire de la SCAM (2009) and the Grand Prix littéraire de l’Afrique noire (2009). His novel, Congo Inc. Le Testament de Bismarck (2015) paints a complex picture of the contemporary Congo in the grip of globalization. In 2020, he curated Mabele eleki lola! (The earth, more beautiful than paradise) at the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Belgium. In conversation with Nteranya A. Sanginga.
This event has taken place
Supported by Open Society Foundations, South to North project, with the support of the Embassy of Belgium
Panashe Chigumadzi and Joe Sacco with Garnette Oluoch-Olunya
Defying the long shadow of empire
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Green Bunk Stage
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 Chigumadziand 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.
This event has taken place
With the support of Open society Foundations, South to north series
