Nairobi Book Fair date is set for book lovers
Alliance Girls High School students at the Book Fair at Sarit Centre, Nairobi, on September 23, 2015. The school has produced many great Kenyan scholars over the years. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA
What you need to know:
- Among the books to be signed include Riding on a Tiger, an autobiography of former VP Moody Awori published by Moran publishers.
- Controversial cleric Rev Timothy Njoya, will also be on hand to sign his memoirs We the People, published by WordAlive Publishers.
Readers from across the country have a chance to get their minds off the current political crisis and impending presidential elections, by reading.
Starting from Wednesday, the Kenya Publishers Association will open the gates of the Nairobi International Book Fair, where for four days, book lovers will sample the best there is in the country. This year’s fair, now in its 20th edition, has ‘Unity through Books’ as its theme.
“Books have a way of fostering peace, if people would take time to read them,” explains Ms Mary Maina, the chairperson of NIBF. “Books have a way of expanding our minds, clearing our thought processes. An informed person is thus able to make the right decision, which translates into keeping peace especially during these uncertain times.”
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko will open the Fair on Thursday at the Sarit Centre Expo. This year’s event has attracted 75 exhibitors, 16 of them international.
“NIBF presents book lovers with an opportunity to buy the latest books at generously discounted prices. Booksellers and librarians also get a chance to replenish their stocks,” says Ms Maina, who is also the general manager of Moran Publishers.
She adds that the fair will, among other things, feature “stimulating discussions by writers, editors and other publishing industry stakeholders. There will also be book launches.”
Among the books to be signed include Riding on a Tiger, an autobiography of former VP Moody Awori published by Moran publishers. Controversial cleric Rev Timothy Njoya, will also be on hand to sign his memoirs We the People, published by WordAlive Publishers.
Ekitabu will unveil winners of the digital essay competition on Wednesday. Kenya Literature Bureau will sponsor various children’s activities on Saturday at Westlands Primary School.
The highlight of the Book Fair will be the awarding of the Text Book Centre Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature, Kenya’s most prestigious literary award, given out on a bi-annual basis by KPA.
