Here are highlights of the NYrobi Book Fest 2025, which was hosted at the Alliance Française Nairobi from April 11 – 13, 2025.
In 2019, the Alliance Française in Nairobi started hosting book events regularly, focusing on the self-publishing space. In 2021, the French Cultural Centre hosted the first edition of the NYrobi Book Fest to platform these new names on the literary scene. In the intervening years, the festival with the self-publishing community as its foundation has added new elements to enhance its offering. In 2022 and 2023, they had more events, a larger variety of guests (including flying in Rémy Ngamije in 2023), offered more space for stands for exhibitors (for free), and better marketing.
The 2025 edition, the fourth, was a unique coming together of those who have been in the self-publishing space alongside the most recognised literary players under the theme “A Decade of Kenyan Writing.” Masterfully curated, it brought together many who have operated in the literary scene in recent years. It was a rare experience for those who attended to engage in almost exclusively Kenyan writing in the last ten years.
For three days, audiences were treated to book launches (Gado’s Hustlers Vs Gen Zs and Zukiswa Wanner’s Love Marry Kill), panel discussions, storytelling (for adults by Ngartia The Storyteller and kids by Wangari The Storyteller), a live podcast recording by eKitabu featuring Empress Ciku Kimani-Mwaniki and Ciku Kimeria, a keynote address by Billy Kahora, and more.
Those who attended (including former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and John Sibi-Okumu) saw many of their favourites (Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, Billy Kahora, Peter Kimani), newer stars (Troy Onyango, Dennis Mugaa), as well as those we rarely see on Kenyan stages like Iman Verjee. The self-publishing scene wasn’t forgotten with a panel featuring Munira Hussein, Odhiambo Kaumah, Vincent de Paul, Eunniah Mbabazi, and Eric Rugara speaking about their sector.
Apart from events on the stages, there were stands where book stores like Prestige Books and Nuria Books could showcase their work, and publishers like the new Narrative Landscape East Africa. There were many stands for individual writers like Terry Wafula, Muthoni Maina, and many others, where fans bought signed copies of titles.
Here are images from the three-day festival courtesy of the Alliance Française and eKitabu.
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