I joined Kwani in 2009 November and currently work at the Trust at the Marketing Officer. Kwani Trust is a Kenyan based literary network dedicated to developing quality creative writing and committed to the growth of the creative industry through the publishing and distribution of contemporary African writing, offering training opportunities, producing literary events and establishing and maintaining global literary networks. Our vision is to create a society that uses its stories to see itself more coherently.Founded in 2003 by Binyavanga Wainaina and a cohort of the most exciting young writers in Kenya, including Muthoni Garland, Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, Parselelo Kantai, and Martin Kimani, Kwani? has thrust African literature into the 21st century. Binyavanga Wainaina won the Caine Prize for his story 'Discovering Home' in 2002, and along with this group and others, established a platform dedicated to nurturing and developing Kenya’s and Africa’s intellectual, creative and imagination resources through strategic literary interventions.
I have a Post Graduate Training in Culture and Society from UVA in the Netherlands as well as recently (April 2010) having participated in an Arts Advocacy and Networking Training in Cameroon organised by ARTerial Network. My passion for the Arts is inspired by the cultural dimensions of development which contine to develop the African society in various spheres. Prior to Kwani I worked at Sarakasi Trust for three years as a Communications Assistant. I have vast experience in Communications /PR for the Arts, Marketing of artistic products and events management.
Communications Assistant
Current projects & events
Summery of current projects
• Publishing and distribution of creative stories: Originally, a community of artists and writers sharing work on an online platform, Kwani Trust has developed into an institution that develops the literary arts and publishes several fiction and non-fiction titles outside its flagship literary magazine. It has also developed an in-house sales team that markets and distributes these publications both locally and internationally.
• Offering training opportunities for literary artists: Kwani Trust has over the last two years developed an internationally recognized literary festival that provides different levels of training for writers. We also run different workshops for fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Through our international networks we have also managed to garner overseas scholarships for writers and artists.
• Facilitating and producing literary events: Kwani Trust runs the Kwani? Litfest in Nairobi and Lamu, to which we bring several international writers, academics and students to share ideas and exchange work with the local literary and artistic community. The Trust also runs several local literary events such as book launches, monthly readings and poetry performances, in addition to our monthly ‘Open Mic’ and ‘Sunday Salon Nairobi’ events, which are poetry and prose readings, respectively.
• Establishing and maintaining global literary networks: Through its writers, friends and partners, Kwani Trust has become a regular invitee to fixtures on the international literary calendar and circuit. Also, many international academic institutions have placed writers and works appearing in the Kwani? Journal on their literary curricula and syllabi ensuring that Kenyan literature is also read elsewhere. Kwani Trust also works with International and continental arts bodies and literary institutions such as the Sundance Institute, Summer Literary Seminars Programme, The Kenya Film commission, The GoDown Arts Centre, and others, as a regional representative and partner to pursue common goals.
• Creating a growing well-governed arts organization-model that remains flexible and creative:
In spite of existing general institutional models and general corporate and NGO creative systems and structures, the lack of whole Creative Arts institution models in the region has meant that Kwani Trust adapts and learns as it establishes itself. This has become a major challenge as we remain committed to the development of corporate institutional values and standards even as we stay as flexible and creative as possible. To ensure this, we currently have a full-time staff of 5 people. We also outsource writers, journalists, photographers, cartoonists, designers, editors and spoken word performers to work and add capacity to ongoing activities. These resources are drawn from our extensive database of contemporary artists. We also administer different projects and activities for individuals and secondary institutions.
Places recommanded for accomodations
Suggestions of Hotels
Panafric , Hilton , Mayfair ,Serena
Recommended restaurants, bars, places to visit..etc
Cultural Venues
National Museum, Go Down Arts Center , Sarakasi Dome ,Alliance Francaise, Kenya natiuonal Theatre, GOETHE - always have ongoing activities
Kenya National Archives - Murumbi Gallery , Allan Donovans Hse(art collections) in Athi River , African Heritage , Kitengela Glass in Athi River
Maasai Market - sat/ sunday at the High court parking ( open air market for curios, souvenirs e.t.c)
Local Book shops - purchse Kwani? , Kwani? series and Kwani-ni titles
Nairobi - Bars/ Restaurants
Habesha Restaurant - Ethopian Cuisine
The Restaurant is located on Arghwings Kodhek road after yaya center
Ranalo Restaurant - African Cuisine
Kimathi street next to Nation center
Meditareneo - Italian Cuisine
Located in Westlands
Havana/ Black diamond / Red Tape - Bars located in westlands
Florida 2000/ Mad House - Located in Koinange street
Tribe Hotel - for dinners - located in Gigiri
Photos of the current projects