110
Or, A Change Is Gonna Come
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Reader,
Botswana held elections last week and I couldn’t help but feel hopeful (and a little jealous) watching them as results came in. Talking to my favourite Motswana about the election and the issues animating people’s desire to have a new party in power was insightful because even literature (I haven’t forgotten why you’re here!) doesn’t always give us a window into the lives of those in other places (related: please read Call and Response by Gothataone Moeng). Maybe this is why I refuse to leave the sinking ship that is Twitter — it still offers the best stage for a variety of voices to be heard.
Botswana’s elections, as I mentioned on Twitter last week, reminded me of Kenya in 2002 — the optimism in the air was something to behold. To this day, I envy folks whose first voting experience was 2002 because those of us who first voted in 2007 had a vastly different experience; one that haunts Kenya to this day. It’s strange to be writing about elections now when there has been a general election in Kenya during the life of this newsletter but G-d knows how beaten down I have felt about electoral politics since I first voted. It really does feel as if things have gone from worse to worser and I hope to be able to hold on to the optimism Batswana are displaying to keep me going.
Another thing giving me hope (you cannot call me Jo’anna etc) this week is a book I read last week and wished I could press into everyone’s hands- Shift Happens: The History of Labor in the United States by J. Albert Mann. Aimed at YA readers, it’s a great primer on labour (I’m from the Commonwealth! *shakes fists at the British Empire*) in the United States that resonates halfway across the world. I enjoyed the book so much I did 2 things I rarely do - stood in a bus so I wouldn’t have to wait at the bus stop and paid my fare using mobile money so I wouldn’t have to have the change dance with the conductor - so I could stay immersed in the world of the book. Watching Our Land, Our Freedom (2023, directed by Meena Nanji & Zippy Kimundu; read Abi’s review here) last week during the time when I was reading it made for very interesting viewing — the heart of the film is organising, which is key to marshalling workers, and so many of the things I had read made for a richer experience. Most of us are workers and reading about the atomisation of labour while unions fight back reminded me how much power we still have in a world that seeks to make us feel disenfranchised. The film is showing at Unseen Nairobi until tomorrow; the book is available as a physical book, e-book and audiobook. Get into them if you can.
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Quick news/ things that may be of interest:
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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!
The fantastic Abigail Arunga has a new book out. It’s open access so have at it!
Abi also has a Quiz Nite this Friday. It was supposed to be on Friday last week but it was a public holiday (Diwali; I have so much to say!!!) so you still have time. Join my team!
The Silent Book Club Nairobi November meeting will be held next week Saturday. Find out more and get your free ticket here.
Mark your calendar for the Zine Club meeting on the 29th. You can find out more about the club in the poster below and start your own via this form.
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Free Palestine: A Verso Reading List (includes some free ebooks)
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I have finished three books since I last wrote to you - 1 audiobook: All the President's Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward (narrated by Richard Poe) and 2 e-books: Shift Happens: The History of Labor in the United States by J. Albert Mann (done as a hybrid read; the audiobook is narrated by Sandy Rustin) and Weirdo by Tony Weaver, Jr.; illustrated by Jes & Cin Wibowo. I hope to get back to making videos soon so I can share my thoughts on these titles. Before then, please go ahead and subscribe to the channel.
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.
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Thank you for reading 🙂
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Enjoy the week ahead and have a lovely time reading. Talk to you soon!