A truly beautiful children’s production inspired by Ben Okri. The beautiful Star Bird loves her tiny little star chicks, and every evening when the sun sets, she flies up, up, up into the sky to light up the stars until they sing, giggle and glow. But when a greedy hunter enters her magical forest, her whole world changes forever... Powerful storytelling theatre with a dazzling fusion of music from around the world, story, dance, stunning costume and puppetry.
6–9 years with parents
Ghanaian poet, novelist, editor, social commentator and broadcaster, Nii is an inspirational writer. Join him for this poetry workshop as he takes you through structure, metaphor and imagery to discover the similarities and differences between poetry and rap/hip hop.
14–18 years
6–9 years with parents
Join animator, illustrator and Just a Band member Daniel Muli, who will show you the wonders of animation and how it can bring your story to life!
14–18 years
Nairobi National Museum design workshop
10–13 years with parents
Don your lab coat and your safety goggles for science experiments that you can do in your own kitchen.
10–13 years
This inspiring storyteller introduces her No. 1 Car Spotter series – bright and plucky adventures set in West Africa. Trouble is brewing in No. 1’s village – cars are being stolen from outside Mama Coca-Cola’s chop house. No. 1 – never one to sit back and let bad things happen soon comes up with a plan. Hear all about it from the storyteller herself – Atinuke.
10–13 years with parents
Alex Kandie interviews former Head of United Nations to Sudan and the author of Against a Tide of Evil about his activism, his writing and how his career unfolded. Kapila has received many awards in recognition of his work, including the Global Citizenship Award of the Institute for Global Leadership. Kapila challenges teenagers to engage in the fight for human rights around the world.
14–18 years
How have careers changes from our grandparents’ time to now? What are the jobs of the future? Which careers are going to grow, and which are going to die?
14–18 years
Jenny’s wonderful series of family stories featuring the mishaps and shenanigans of the irrepressible five-year-old Iggy, seen through the eyes of big sister Flo. Jenny hosts this creative workshop of collage-making and capers.
6–9 years with parents
The famous University of Nairobi Fab Lab comes to the festival, with their picocrickets kits, armed to make ‘almost anything’! Get your first taste of robotics here.
10–13 years
Millie Dok (Worms to Eat, What a Treat), Joan Kabugu (Boom Boom Bus) and illustrator extraordinaire Reeves Kibet (I Want to be on TV) grill each other about the inspiration behind their stories, where their characters come from, and share secrets about the writing and illustration process.
6–9 years with parents
Schools come together to rehearse the Read Aloud Guinness Book of Records World Record attempt.
All welcome
Alex Kandie chats with Olympic medalist and world champion marathon runner Catherine Ndereba, popularly known as ‘Catherine the Great’. They discuss her extraordinary achievements and her life story - how a girl from a humble background was able to scale international heights.
14–18 years
Learn all the hot secrets of dramatizing a book.
10–13 years
Come and Koroga with Mkorogi and poet, Michael Onsando. A fun workshop where you get to paint photos with words, and create your own Koroga. Koroga is an artform that brings together Kenyan poets and photographers to create new stories stirring together different disciplines.
Teens
You have the creative freedom to design the future you want, and create solutions to problems you see in the country. Let the innovation begin!
14–18 years
Fidelis Kyalo of Krystal Puppeteers and the famous XYZ show.
10–13 years
A happy illustration workshop where you get to learn how to bring the characters of the popular book Matatu from Watamu to life, led by Dayan – musician, writer, illustrator and artist extraordinaire.
6–9 years with parents
Featuring Nairobi’s headlining artists, this concert will leave you in a musical whirl. Kick off with the high-energy Afro fusion band Sarabi and then let Mumala and Kiu melt your dance sweat away. Phenomenal Fena will have you head-bopping and feet-tapping to soul and afro house, and the electrifying Jemedari will teach you just what jazzy hip hop is. Imagine it... we can.