The website of leading Nairobi-based bookstore Soma Nami Books was a victim of a cyber attacker alleging antisemitism on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
Soma Nami Books is a bookstore that focuses on Pan African and Feminist reads founded by Muthoni Muiruri and Wendy Njoroge in Nairobi, Kenya in 2021. It has quickly become one of the go-to spaces for readers and writers with a monthly book club and book launches, whilst also hosting The African Book Fair in 2023. We expect another edition of the fair this year. Soma Nami for your information is “read with me” in Kiswahili.
One of the key parts of the business is the online store where you can pick a preferred book and have it delivered wherever you are in Kenya. On Tuesday, staff found the website with the following message on their homepage; “Dear Earthling, This is a warning! Say No To Antisemitism! Say No To Stocking Antisemitic Books! We are a legend we don’t forgive we don’t forget! We have Spared You! Don’t try us! We are Anonymous!”
The Soma Nami Team quickly sent out a statement to newsrooms stating, “Soma Nami Books has been at the forefront of democratizing access to knowledge and information and is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and promoting the power of literature. This attack represents not only a breach of digital security but also a direct assault on the fundamental freedoms of expression, creativity, and information.”
The statement did not address the issue that was raised by those behind the attack but they have been known to stock titles that a Zionist individual or organisation would feel attacked by. The offending message has since been taken down and a visitor to the website would see the famous, “site is undergoing maintenance: We are running some updates on the backend. Sorry for the inconvenience. Please check back soon.”
If you would like to know what books pissed off the Zionist hackers, you need to physically go to the Soma Nami shop on Ngong Road and pick your own offending title. You can also follow them on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. Yes, even Facebook.
Read the statement from Soma Nami below in full;
PRESS STATEMENT 27 March 2024
SUBJECT: CYBER ATTACK ON SOMA NAMI BOOKS
Dear Valued Readers, Authors, and Supporters,
It is with great regret that we inform you of a recent targeted cyber attack on the website of Soma Nami Books www.somanami.co.ke, on Tuesday, 26th March 2024.
Founded in 2021, Soma Nami Books is a woman-owned and run Pan-African bookstore and literary hub based in Nairobi, Kenya, offering a vast and diverse selection of books to readers across East Africa. Soma Nami Books has been at the forefront of democratizing access to knowledge and information and is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and promoting the power of literature.
This attack represents not only a breach of digital security but also a direct assault on the fundamental freedoms of expression, creativity and information.
Soma Nami Books has long served as a beacon for readers and writers alike, providing a space where diverse voices can be heard and celebrated. Our commitment to encouraging critical thinking, and championing the written word remains unwavering, despite this setback.
This incident serves as a timely reminder of the importance of protecting books and ideas in an increasingly digital world. Books have the power to enlighten, inspire, and challenge us. They are essential vehicles for the transmission of knowledge and the preservation of culture. Yet, they are also vulnerable to censorship and suppression, whether through physical means or digital attacks.
We are actively working to restore the Soma Nami Books website and strengthen our cybersecurity measures to prevent future attacks. The matter has also been reported to the relevant authorities for investigation. As a precautionary measure, and as investigations into this incident are carried out by relevant authorities, Soma Nami Books has taken the decision to take the services that were available online on the website, offline.
In the meantime, readers can still purchase books in-person at our store at The Greenhouse Mall, Ground floor, through phone/WhatsApp on 0705 548 052 or via our social media platforms below: Instagram – @somanami_ke, X (Formerly Twitter) – Soma Nami Books, Facebook – Soma Nami Books
Together, let us reaffirm our commitment to the power of books and the enduring importance of free expression. Thank you for your continued support
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