Kenya's Reading Revolution

May 31, 2011

Kenya's Reading Revolution

Weslie Onsando works in Nairobi with Storymoja, a literary collective that is, among other things, coordinating a Kenyan Reading Revolution campaign to "spark the imagination of our nation, and excite Kenyans about books, ideas and creativity." Part of this campaign includes an online 'Why I Read' series. Onsando asked me to contribute my own story about booklish love; it is published today and it begins like this:

I began reading because I liked it. That sounds simple, almost quaint, but it’s the truth. I am a lover of stories, and these books — amazing books — carried the stories. Also, reading was something I could do by myself; that is no small thing for a kid. While pretty much anything else I wanted to do depended on an adult (to help me, to take me someplace, to give me permission), picking up a book to read depended on no one but myself. It was probably my very first act of independence.

Also, you can look forward to my own interview with Onsando, coming soon to an Isak near you! Sneak preview: she is amazing.

Posted at 07:40 AM in Africa, Culture, Isak, Literary Life, Media | Permalink

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Comments

Interesting. The "Why I read" and "why I write" always are! I wonder what I would write about this.

Posted by: Stefania | May 31, 2011 at 08:53 AM

I would love to hear what you come up with, Stefania!

Posted by: Anna Clark | May 31, 2011 at 10:00 AM

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