The Kenyan Readathon 2024 dedicated to Kenyan books, celebrating its fifth year, is set to run from April to September.
In 2020, literary activist Lexa Lubanga announced the “Kenya Readathon” initiative to celebrate writing from the East African nation. It was a virtual series to encourage readers to promote Kenyan authors with their work as well as support local bookstores. Organisers encouraged lovers of Kenyan writing to share their experiences of the work on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. The initiative started hosting physical meetings in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
For 2024, organisers have taken a different view of their project opting to not straightjacket the celebration of Kenyan letters to just one month. There will be a wider analysis of the country’s literature with the work produced given more than one month to shine. The approach gives readers a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the literary gems that have placed Kenya on the international reading charts.
“We are thrilled to offer readers a journey through time, exploring the diverse and captivating literary landscape of Kenya,” said Lexa Lubanga, organizer of the Kenyan Readathon. “Our goal is to enlighten readers globally and celebrate the remarkable works that have shaped our literary heritage.”
The primary celebration for the Kenyan Readathon is scheduled for the Alliance Française Multimedia Library, Nairobi on September 14. The full schedule for the project will run as follows;
- April – 1960s
- May – 1970s
- June – 1980s
- July – 1990s
- August – Early 2000s
- September – Present
“We are thrilled to offer readers a journey through time, exploring the diverse and captivating literary landscape of Kenya,” said Lexa Lubanga, organizer of the Kenyan Readathon. “Our goal is to enlighten readers globally and celebrate the remarkable works that have shaped our literary heritage.”
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