World Storytelling Day is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling celebrated every year on (or near) March 20th. This year the day with the theme “Strong Women” will have a special event in Nairobi called, Re-imagined! A Magical Day of Storytelling.
The magical world of stories will be recreated in Nairobi for the launch of Re-Imagined, a global online storytelling contest inviting African writers, poets, playwrights, and journalists to re-invent and update the African folktale for a new millennium.
The one-day programme will include interactive performances by the city’s finest storytellers, a reading nook where writers and parents will share their favourite tales, and workshops for both kids and adults on a wide range of topics, from illustrating, to writing, and poetry. There will also be an art exhibition by a collective of women illustrators and graffiti artists as well as a stories booth to record children’s own stories. There will also be book stalls for those who want to buy books.
Did I mention that there will also be a charity auction where a group of women illustrators who will each reinterpret the novels through paintings, ink sketches, and graffiti? These will be auctioned at the end of the night and all the proceeds will go towards the medical fund of beloved Kenyan writer, journalist, and activist, Kevin Mwachiro, who is currently fighting cancer. Sounds good no? Well, there’s more.
The day will culminate in a riveting stage performance with five of Nairobi’s finest storytellers, actresses, and poets re-interpreting six African novels by women authors through oral tales. They include;
• “So Long a Letter, 1980: by Mariama Ba, re-imagined by Sitawa Namwalie
• “Coming to Birth (1986): by Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye, re-imagine by Mumbi Kaigwa
• “The Minaret, 2005: by Leila Aboulela, re-imagined by Raya Wambui
• “Maid in SA: 30 Ways to leave your Madam, 2013: by Zukiswa Wanner, re-imagined by Patricia Kihoro
• “The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, 2014: by Lola Shoneyin, reimagined by Maimouna Jallow
There will also be a contest for those who believe that they are the best storytellers on the day presented.
World Storytelling Day 2016 in Nairobi will be epic!
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Tags:
Coming to Birth, Kevin Mwachiro, Leila Aboulela, Lola Shoneyin, Maid in SA: 30 Ways to leave your Madam, Maimouna Jallow, Mariama Ba, Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye, Mumbi Kaigwa, Patricia Kihoro, Raya Wambui, Sitawa Namwalie, So Long a Letter, The Minaret, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, World Storytelling Day, World Storytelling Day 2016, Zukiswa Wanner
Comments
4 responses to “World Storytelling Day 2016 in Nairobi will be epic!”
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Hey James, where exactly will the events be held in Nairobi?
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Hey Muturi. The events will be happening at the Kwani Grounds on Riverside Drive in Nairobi. We shall be updating more as the event takes form.
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Hi there, I’m in Nairobi at the beginning of June and so sorry to have missed this event. Do you know of any places I can go and hear storytelling in Nairobi? Would love to immerse myself in the stories from the people whilst I’m there for a couple of days :))
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I know there are a few events at the Goethe literary wise; you want to check out their event page online. The Etisalat Prize trio will also be in town in June to do their book tour. Look out for those events as I will be announcing them on this very blog.
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