Children’s Corner

Children’s Corner

The Children's Corner is back! This time the space also features arts and crafts activities…

Green Bunk Stage - Sunday, 29th June

Home to topical, thought-provoking conversations — and completely free to attend! This stage brings together local and international voices to explore bold ideas in literature, culture, and society.

A Palace for The People: Where were you on 25th June 2024

A Palace for The People: Where were you on 25th June 2024

Book Bunk founders Angela Wachuka and Wanjiru Koinange host a special live edition of their…

Mother tongue on the page

Mother tongue on the page

Spotlight on literary publishing challenging English hegemony with Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia and Jane Obuchi.…

For the people, by the people 

For the people, by the people 

Hear from creatives telling nuanced stories about Kenyan life through their artist endeavours. Eric Wainaina…

Balm for a world on fire

Balm for a world on fire

Celebrated poets Momtaza Mehri, Michelle Angwenyi and Willie Oeba explore meaning-making through the written word…

Retrospective on a career: In Koli Jean Bofane

Retrospective on a career: In Koli Jean Bofane

Born in 1954 in Mbandaka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire)., In…

Defying the long shadow of empire

Defying the long shadow of empire

In seeking new answers to the issues that plague us, we look to leading intellectuals…

Closing party: DJ set 

Closing party: DJ set 

Dance into the night as we close the festival on a musical note.

Worth fighting for

Worth fighting for

Discussing disability advocacy and how to create real change with Senator Crystal Asige who championed…

Book Talk Stage - Sunday, 29th June

A new addition to the festival! This cosy stage is dedicated to intimate sessions with authors, offering a closer look at their books, processes, and inspirations.

Book Talk: Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia | ‘Kifo Kisimani’

Book Talk: Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia | ‘Kifo Kisimani’

Prof. Kithaka wa Mberia talks all things “Kifo Kisimani” (Death at the Well), a play…

Book Talk: Dipo Faloyin | ‘Africa Is Not a Country’

Book Talk: Dipo Faloyin | ‘Africa Is Not a Country’

A chat with Dipo Faloyin, a Nigerian journalist and author of non-fiction novel, “Africa Is…

Book Talk: Ayanna Lloyd Banwo | ‘When We Were Birds’

Book Talk: Ayanna Lloyd Banwo | ‘When We Were Birds’

Ayanna Lloyd Banwo discusses her award-winning debut novel, “When We Were Birds”, a mythic love…

Book Talk: Dennis Mugaa | ‘Half Portraits Under Water’

Book Talk: Dennis Mugaa | ‘Half Portraits Under Water’

Join Dennis Mugaa as he discusses his debut short story collection, “Half Portraits Under Water”…

Ikulu Stage - Sunday, 29th June

Big ideas, small setting. Ikulu is a ticketed stage (only KES 300), hosting powerful, in-depth conversations. All proceeds go towards the restoration of Nairobi’s public libraries.

Experiments in pedagogies

Experiments in pedagogies

A conversation with publishers Ntone Edjabe and Billy Kahora who have adopted subversive approaches to…

Reversing cultural erosion

Reversing cultural erosion

Prof. Rinaldo Walcott, whose research focuses on the cultural expression of Black life will explore…

Tactile and analogue

Tactile and analogue

An interview with James Rugami affectionately known as the “Real Vinyl Guru” and a mainstay…

Hearth as source

Hearth as source

French-Moroccan author Leila Slimani discusses her ongoing trilogy which includes the novels, “In the Country…