Ng’ang’a Mbugua’s Terrorist of the Aberdare wins Wahome Mutahi Prize

Ng’ang’a Mbugua’s novella, Terrorist of the Aberdare has won the third edition of the Wahome Mutahi Literary Award, while John Habwe’s book Cheche za Moto won the Kiswahili category of the same prize. The awarding ceremony was the highlight of the 13th edition of the Nairobi International Book Fair. An elated Ng’ang’a Mbugua, who is [...]

What to expect at the Nairobi International Book Fair

In case you have forgotten, the 13th Nairobi International Book Fair is still on at the Sarit Centre Expo Centrer will run up to Sunday September 26. So make a point of making an appearance there. Mr Lawrence Njagi, the chairman of the Book Fair say that this year, the have received a record number [...]

Why Kiyiapi’s presence at the Nairobi International Book Fair means so much to Kenyan publishers

Kenya’s Education Permanent Secretary Prof James ole Kiyiapi will, on Thursday, September 23 preside over the official opening of the 13th edition of the Nairobi International Book Fair, at the Sarit Centre in Nairobi. The very fact that Prof Kiyiapi has agreed to officiate at the event is not lost to players in the publishing [...]

Ngugi wa Thiong’o on Kenyan writing, Kwani? and other stories

When Ngugi wa Thiong’o was in the country for the launch of his latest book Dreams in a Time of War: A Childhood Memoir, yours truly had a chance to talk with him, and the interview touched on a number of issues. Among other issues he urged young writers not to shy away from self-publishing [...]

Get rich quick, by Alfred Mutua, really?

Ever since I heard that Kenya’s government spokesman Alfred Mutua has written a book on, wait for it, How to be rich in Africa, I knew something was amiss somewhere. With all due respect Mutua was the last person I expected to write on such a topic. He must have hustled his way to a [...]

Wahome Mutahi Literary Award nominees

After months of deliberation, the judging panel of the Wahome Mutahi Literary Awards have announced the list of nominees for the 2010 edition. Maishayetu hereby gives you the list of nominees in both the English and Kiswahili categories. English 1. Hawecha: A Woman for all Time by Rhodia Mann – Sasa Sema/Longhorn 2. A Measure [...]