The Kistrech International Poetry Festival 2025, with the theme “Poetry and Performance,” will be held in Kisii, Kenya, from October 17 – 23, 2025.
The Kistrech International Poetry Festival was founded to promote poetry and cultural exchange between local and foreign artists by Dr Christopher Okemwa in 2013. The annual festival features spoken-word, rap, song, poetry reading, oral poetry, music instrument-playing, and other performances. You can follow our reporting of this remarkable festival in Western Kenya here.
The 2025 edition is set to light up Kisii with poetry reading and performances, spoken word, performances of songs, both traditional and modern, dances, and more in venues around Kisii town.
There will be participation from poets from Switzerland, the United States, Finland, Iraq, the Czech Republic, Barbados, the United Kingdom, and the host country, Kenya, who will present work that has been published and work that is still in progress. They include Dr. Alfred Nyagaka Nyamwange, Blaise Oberson, Eliane Vernay, Dr. Evans Gesura Mecha, Fidel Ongolla, Hassanal Abdullah, Matthews Obiri Nyamari, Riina Katajavuori, Peshawa Kakayi, Elder, Nemwel Mogere Atemba, Tereza Riedlbauchová, Winston Farrell, Zita Holbourne FRSA, and Christopher Okemwa, Idah Akinyi, John Kamau Njoroge, Dominion Ogega, Brighton Miheso, and Calvin Isomba.
Some of the anticipated highlights will be Dr. Alfred Nyagaka Nyamwange’s submissions in Kisii, Torende Obwoamate, and Monto Nchara, as well as his English entries, “Build Good Neighbourliness” and “The Famished One.“ Dr. Evans Gesura Mecha has the poems in Kisii, Mosaiga Agaacha Egesa, and Riuko Gochia Moniibi One. Fidel Ongolla has Le Queen Pin, while Hassanal Abdullah has the poem Vultures are Doing Well. Christopher Okemwa will present Butterflies in Gaza and A Dark Night for a Face.
For more information on the festival, we recommend their Facebook page.
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