46
Or, Something Precious
Reader,
Look at this poster:
That’s what I missed on Saturday because I was at a delightful artist talk between Immy Mali and Alexis Teyie. Before that, I attended a generative workshop led by Mali whose practice and generosity are an inspiration. I was so enamoured I almost followed her to Kampala but then I remembered that there’s Ebola in Uganda right now, and I wouldn’t put it past Kenya’s port health authorities to deny me re-entry when I return so here I am.
And I haven’t talked about the other film event - Jackie Karuti’s experimental film screening at Unseen Nairobi which I hope to attend this weekend (message me if you’d like to come along!) as well as the Macondo Literary Festival which featured some of Africa’s foremost writers. I happened to be at Sarit Centre on Friday, though, so I visited the Nairobi International Book Fair and got YB a colouring book at the Big Bad Wolf area (it had lots of books and they’ll be back in mid-October - 11th to 23rd if I recall correctly - not sponsored, just found it fun to find more than one comic book on ale) and a person I met took a photo of me holding Akokhan: More Than a Comic Story by Frank Odoi, a classic, at the East African Educational Publishers stand. So a standard case of you win some you lose some etc.
Sending this on the day before the Nobel Prize for Literature is announced and on the day after the National Book Awards finalists were announced. Of the latter, I’ve only read Sonora Reyes’s The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School which I quite enjoyed. I’m looking forward to reading some of the titles; as seen by the books on hold at the library. For the former, this article in The New Republic was hilarious; including the annual inclusion of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, about whom I have mixed feelings at the best of times.
If you’ve been here a while you may remember Laps & Livres; the swimming+reading group I started last year. I haven’t been in a pool in almost 6 months and it was a pleasure to dive into one today (I’m surprised I’m still awake) so I guess we’re back! I also happen to be away from wage work for a while (doctor’s orders etc) so I might as well use that time to read and swim, as one does.
Right, some recent and upcoming texts:
I am enjoying:
Insecure (created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore) - I just started Season 1. My dear friend Winnie Makokha loves this show and I see why
Funny Weather: Art in an Emergency by Olivia Laing - recommended by Georgia in a past comment section and off to a good start
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott which came highly recommended by the inimitable Rosie Olang’
In the middle of Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo which is proving to be a bit of a mixed bag and excited about getting into Where the Wild Ladies Are by Aoko Matsuda which I’m doing a buddy read of with MJ.
As ever, please write back to me and tell me what books you’re reading or looking forward to reading this week — it’s always a great time talking about books.
Enjoy the rest of the week and have a lovely time reading. Talk to you soon!