The second edition of NBO Litfest 2023, organised by Book Bunk, will run in venues in the Kenyan capital from August 24 – 27, 2023.
In 2021 Nairobi-based Book Bunk hosted NBO Litfest, a virtual festival anchored in Nairobi’s public libraries with stories and ideas emerging from Nairobi and other regional spaces. Designed as a celebration of public libraries as spaces for art, culture, and knowledge production, it featured virtual concerts, live storytelling, and writers in conversation. Some of the guests for that inaugural edition were Rémy Ngamije, Troy Onyango, Wangari the Storyteller, Bettina Ng’weno, Njane Mugambi, Lauren Beukes, Wanjiru Koinange, Eric Klinenberg, Dr Wangui Kimari, Billy Kahora, and Muthoni Garland.
The 2023 edition of the festival is set to be hosted at the McMillan Memorial Library, Eastlands Library, and Kaloleni Library as well as virtually starting on Thursday. This year’s theme, “Mtaa Narratives”, is a call to explore cultural memory and the stories that ground us. Mtaa being kitongoji, neighbourhood, baze, hood, home, how do we negotiate distance from and proximity to our roots? What do we foreground? Are there inflexible ideas about a place?
There will be readings, panel conversations, performances, and loads more over three days. Some of the featured guests are Petina Gappah, Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu, Sitawa Namwalie, Alexis Teyie, Teardrops, Wanjeri Gakuru, Dotto Daudi Rangimoto, Chief Nyamweya, April Kamunde, Bankslave, Edith Kimani, Lesley Nneka Arimah, Damilare Kuku, Kevin Mwachiro, Linda Musita, Zukiswa Wanner, Lebo Mashile, Ngwatilo Mawiyoo, Slim Shaka, Nyash, Lebo Mashile, Ngala Chome, Wairimũ Nduba, Dr Joyce Nyairo, Damilare Kuku, Sanaipei Tande, Juliani, Scar Mkadinali, Christine Mungai, James Murua, and Beverly Ochieng’.
There will also be a tribute series celebrating Micere Mugo, Ama Ata Aidoo, Ken Walibora, and Keorapetse Kgositsile as well as a live podcast recording. Also on offer will be a concert featuring Fena, King Kaka, H_art The Band, and others.
For more information on the festival, including the program, please click here.
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