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African Author Spotlight – Interview with Peter Ngila Njeri – Engl/Ger
AFRICAN AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT – AN INTERVIEW WITH PETER NGILA NJERI By Lorna Likiza Peter Ngila Njeri is a Kenyan Writer who won the James Currey Prize for African Literature in September 2023 for his novel manuscript, The Legend Of Beach House. This is an annual award given to the best unpublished work of fiction written in English by an African writer and named after James Currey, a renowned publisher of African literature. He is an Iceland Writers Retreat Alumni and Ebedi Fellow. In this interview with Culture Africa Associate Editor, Lorna Likiza, Peter delves deeper into the writing process of his winning manuscript and shares why he feels literary prizes are essential for writers. Lorna Likiza: Hi Peter, welcome…
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Ally Abdallah: The Book, the Festival, Zanzibar and the Nobel Prize winner – Interview engl/ger
It is a great event, a great surprise that Ally Abdalla has managed to pull off. For the first literature festival in Zanzibar, Ally was able to attract no less than the current winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Abdulraznak Gurnah. For Gurnah, who is from Zanzibar but had to leave the island in the 1960s, it is a triumphant event to be back. At the Heroe Book Fair in Mombasa, I spoke with author, filmmaker and organizer of the new cultural event in Zanzibar, Ally Abdalla.
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A phantastic Mombasa journey: The House of Rust – Book Review by Lorna Likiza – engl/ger
A phantastic Mombasa journey: "The House of Rust is an enchanting novel about a Hadhrami girl in Mombasa. When her fisherman father goes missing, Aisha takes to the sea on a magical boat made of a skeleton to rescue him. She is guided by a talking scholar’s cat (and soon crows, goats, and other animals all have their say, too). On this journey Aisha meets three terrifying sea monsters." (Graywolf Press) Khadija Abdallah Bajaber's, THE HOUSE OF RUST, is proof of that the fantasy genre has a future in Kenyan literature.
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Pwani Tribune – Passion for Coastal Culture and History Interview with/mit Albert Mwamburi engl/ger
I recognize the need of bringing these other Coastal cultures to prominence. The kind of prominence that Swahili culture enjoys. And there’s actually so much to write about them. When you mention that the Swahili historical evidence is readily available, I would like to bring to your attention that there are also some caves in Taita Taveta County that very few Kenyans know about. These are the kinds of things I strive to highlight.
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Kenyan Cuisine has a lot to offer: Interview with Yvonne Mula
Aus unserer Reihe über afrikanische Kochkunst besuchen wir heute das Restaurant Mikaye in Mombasa. Yvonne Mula wird im Interview ihre Philosophie der afrikanischen Küche erzählen.
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Gede Ruins – Digging through History – Ausgrabungen in Gede/Kenia
In two parts, Lorna Likiza explores the remains of an ancient Swahili City at the Kenyan Coast, with a focus on the ongoing archaeological project at the historical site, being carried out by Prof. Chapurukha Kusimba.
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A Male as a Female – The Evolution of African Comedy Part 2 – engl/ger
In an Africa where cross-dressing has mostly been frowned upon, it’s interesting and also curious to note this sudden evolution. Perhaps in a celebration of African mothers, most of the comedians have chosen to include the character of a mother in their skits. However, when we have too many comedians doing the same thing online, then it becomes old and tired hence the inclusion of a diversity of female characters.
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Instilling a Reading Culture in African Children – Interview with Okenna Nzelu/Bright Lights Books engl/ger
I would love to see free public libraries across Africa and affordable children’s books with multiple distribution channels. But until then, I think each of us should be doing the little we can starting with our own families or communities.
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Travelling While Black – Nanjala Nyabola’s Book as an Insta Live Discussion engl/ger
To add salt to injury, the discussion of the termini for African travelers being on the furthest end in airports and the stark difference in business classes in airplanes flying to Africa when compared to those whose destinations are overseas was equally raised on this IG Live. The last chapter in Nyabola’s book which Arunga pointed out is titled Small Acts Of Resistance. The chapter actually challenges the reader to consider what they can do in their own small capacities to solve some issues such as pollution and exploitation among others.
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The White Savior Complex – Der Weisse Retter Komplex // Essay by Lorna Likiza – engl/ger
The White Savior Complex – Is Self-Hate to Blame? by Lorna Likiza For German Version please scroll down I am currently reading Out Of Darkness, Shining Light by Zimbabwean Writer, Petina Gappah. The story follows the events just after the death of Scottish Physician, Explorer and Missionary, David Livingstone, and how his African companions decided to transport his body to Bagamoyo so that it could be further transported to his native land for proper burial. It’s historical fiction at its finest but one character stands out for me. Jacob Wainwright. Rescued as a young boy from being sold into slavery by the British, Wainwright is enrolled into the Nassick Mission School in Bombay where in the process he becomes…
