Book Bunk and Hay Festival are co-hosting this year’s edition of NBO Litfest, taking place from June 27 – 30 June 2024 at three public libraries in Nairobi: Kaloleni Library, Eastlands Library, and McMillan Memorial Library. This year marks a special iteration of the festival, as Book Bunk partners with Hay Festival Global to bring an unparalleled celebration of literature and free expression to the heart of Nairobi.
The festival timings for all days will be from 10 – 8 PM. For more information on the 2024 NBO Litfest, visit NBO Litfest.
Ahead of the festival, Angela Wachuka, co-founder of Book Bunk says, “The establishment of Book Bunk was borne out of our search for public libraries in which to host literary events and 6 years later, we are thrilled to stage these events in these very spaces that are now vibrant centres of creative expression in Nairobi,” with Wanjiru Koinange, co-founder of Book Bunk adding, “We’re honoured to be able to continue to invite the world to experience our city, its storytelling and its libraries.”
Rooted in Nairobi’s vibrant public libraries, NBO Litfest is not just a literary festival; it’s a dynamic platform that unites writers, artists, and thinkers from the region and beyond with the community. This year’s festival promises to amplify voices, inspire creativity, and ignite discussions that challenge conventions and inspire change, fostering a rich environment for cultural exchange and intellectual engagement.
The festival has an exciting programme that begins on Friday 28 June with a day of masterclasses featuring writers, journalists and public speakers at the height of their craft, including Bernardine Evaristo, Shafinaaz Hassim, Mercy Juma, Beverly Ochieng and June Gachui. Events for children and young people across the festival days include an African Story Box Time with Orpah Agunda; director Tevin Kimathi and kid actor Kael Wafubwa showing their new film ‘Stero’; live and interactive readings with Taiye Selasi, Amani Muthoni and Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni and story writing masterclass with Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni plus live music.
Saturday and Sunday (29 – 30 June) will present the main festival days at Eastlands Library. Some of the world’s biggest questions will be tackled in panels including author Amitav Ghosh and activist Elizabeth Wathuti on the climate crisis; human rights activist Joumana Haddad and Brazilian writer Djamila Ribeiro will take on feminist fury; award-winning journalists Jon Lee Anderson and Sevgil Musaeva will explore the perils of speaking out; and technology rights defender Alex Gakuru will join artists working in the digital realm Chidi Nwaubani and Naddya Adhiambo Oluoch-Olunya for a discussion on AI.
Questions around identity will come to the fore as writers Aminatta Forna OBE, Taiye Selasi and Ndinda Kioko talk to Mercy Juma about the African in the diasporas; author Lola Shoneyin talks to historian David Olusoga about the impact of his work in rethinking black history; editor Nguru Karugu will talk about breaking taboos with photographer Sarah Waiswa and poet Ngartia; writers and activists Zakaria Ibrahimi and Cyrine Ghannouchi will talk to Nesrine Malik about decolonising perspectives on social media; and Djamila Ribeiro and Brenda Wambui will explore Black Feminism.
Offering insights into their craft, writing pair Ibrahima Balde and Amets Arzallus will join visual artist Kamwathi Peterson Waweru to explore how art helps us tell the hardest stories; content creators and digital storytellers: Justine Wanda, Swiry Nyar Kano and Astar talk will talk to publicist Anyiko Owoko about their approach and craft; poet Nombeko Nontshokweni, Kiswahili author Edwin Omindo and lawyer Deborah Tendo will share insider publishing tips; author Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni who helped her mother, Nombeko Nontshokweni fulfil her life-long dream of publishing a treasured 40-year-old manuscript in South African documentary ‘uNobuntu’ will also be present; with Booker Prize winning novelist Bernardine Evaristo discussing crafting spaces for underrepresented voices.
View the festival programme and participants.
Book Bunk and Hay Festival Partnership will widen the scope and impact of NBO Litfest. The collaboration adds more pan african and international participants in dialogue with East African writers, creators and thought leaders about global issues. This presents an opportunity for NBO LitFest to grow, while continuing to highlight the importance of public libraries as safe spaces for discussion and critical thinking.
ABOUT BOOK BUNK
Book Bunk is a charitable trust established by author Wanjiru Koinange and publisher Angela Wachuka that transforms public libraries into ‘Palaces for The People’; vibrant, inclusive community spaces. The Trust has overseen the architectural restoration of Eastlands Library (opened in 1969) and Kaloleni Library (opened in 1967) as well as the restoration and digitisation of archives. Arts and skill-based programming is offered across these libraries, with 19,000 book collections added to shelves. The organisation is currently fundraising for the restoration of McMillan Memorial Library – Nairobi’s oldest library, opened in 1931.
ABOUT HAY FESTIVAL
Hay Festival Global is a charity providing global festivals of stories, ideas, and new possibilities. Through one-of-a-kind festivals, in unique locations around the world – plus forums, digital platforms and learning programmes – Hay Festival celebrates and inspires different views, perspectives, and points of view. In 1987, Hay Festival was dreamt up in the booktown of Hay-on-Wye, Wales. Thirty-seven years later, the charity runs events and projects all over the world, from the historic town of Cartagena in Colombia to the heart of cities in Peru, Mexico, Spain and the USA. Hay Festival reaches a global audience of millions each year and continues to grow and innovate, earning multiple awards over the years, including Festival of Sanctuary status from refugee charity City of Sanctuary UK and, in 2020, Spain’s Princess of Asturias Award in Communication and Humanities.
