108
Or, Lift Every Voice
Reader,
Yesterday, I sang with some friends and strangers— a delight that I hope to replicate in the months and years to come. Many many thanks to my dear friend Jill for inviting me along and to the wonderful folks at Munyu Space for being great hosts (including introducing us to some delicious snacks).
Here's how it started:
(It’s a screenshot of an Instagram post because I don’t go there anymore)
I told Jill it reminded me of Choir! Choir! Choir! which I always wished I could participate in so I wasn’t going to miss it. I’m working with some new and old friends to organise something similar after yesterday (thankfully this, unlike swimming, doesn’t require good weather) and I’ll let you know what comes from it.
Yesterday’s event was part of Sonic Mass | An audio group exhibition happening at Munyu till the end of the month (details in this post) - please see it if you can. It incorporates sounds and texts in interesting ways and you’ll leave with much to think about (including the books one encounters in the show).
Yesterday’s singing came the day after a fun return to the Silent Book Club Nairobi. The skies opened up but the group’s founder had had the presence of mind to have us sit at the amphitheatre so we were able to read and chat as always. The range of books discussed was a joy, as always, and it was nice to meet new people, encounter fresh perspectives, and fight my attention with company. Going forward, the plan is to meet on the third Saturday of every month. The founder and I are setting up the infrastructure to make that a reality over the next few weeks so mark your calendar for 2pm 16th November with more details to come.
______
Quick news/ things that may be of interest:
Subscribe to my WhatsApp channel for texts I find while I spend time online
If you’re in the Global North and would be open to engaging in the North-South solidarity that is sharing a library card, please email or message me so we can figure things out. Thank you!
Since Elon seems to want (some of) us gone, I’m trying to post more often on Bluesky. Follow me there if you’re on it!
Happening on Saturday: the Radical Books Collective book club with Fatin Abbas, author of Ghost Season, part of their #SudanSyllabus programming
Unprovoked Narratives: A series of films celebrating the beauty of Gaza, its people, its struggle and its survival showing from 14th to 24th October
The Queer Liberation Library, everyone
Free Palestine: A Verso Reading List (includes some free ebooks)
You can send me books, postcards, letters, and assorted items via PO Box 102439, Jamia Posta 00101, Nairobi, Kenya
I have finished four books since I last wrote to you - 3 e-book titles: Sunshine: A Graphic Novel by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, This American Ex-Wife: How I Ended My Marriage and Started My Life by Lyz Lenz (done as a hybrid read; the audiobook is narrated by the author) and The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr (done as a hybrid read; the audiobook is narrated by Sarah Zimmerman). I also listened to Hey, Kiddo: A Graphic Novel by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (narrated by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Jeanne Birdsall, Richard Ferrone & Jenna Lamia). I hope to get back to making videos soon so I can share my thoughts on these titles.
As ever, please write back to me and tell me what books you’re reading or looking forward to reading — it’s always a great time talking about books.
Enjoy the week ahead and have a lovely time reading. Talk to you soon!