The Books In Africa Podcast
Conversations about books, writers and publishing in Africa. Listen here or follow the show on Spotify.
Episodes (20)
Is Religion Excusing Bad Leadership in Kenya? I Conversation with the Literature Guru
Do African politicians hide behind religion to escape accountability? And is traditional spiritual intervention what will save Africa? In this fiery discussion of Dr Kavirondo by Professor David G. Maillu, the Literature Guru unpacks Luo politics, tribal…
Kikuyu Love, Colonial Kenya & the Road to Rebellion | Part 2
What happens when the land your ancestors gave you is taken by strangers? In Chapter Two of Our Land, Our Love, Wacheera and Ekeno begin married life amid growing tensions in colonial Kenya. As British colonial rule threatens Kikuyu land, culture and…
Are Luos Their Own Worst Enemies? Politics, Wealth and Luo Identity | Part 4
What if the biggest obstacle to Luo economic progress isn't outsiders, but Luos themselves? In Dr. Kavirondo, two academics confront uncomfortable questions about Luo politics, wealth, tribal identity and the rivalries that may be holding their community…
Our Land, Our Love: Will the White Man Ever Leave? | Part 1
What happens when strangers settle on your land, and the home you have always known begins to slip away? In the first chapter of Our Land, Our Love, we meet Wacheera Githue, a young woman navigating family expectations, the stirrings of love and the changing…
Forget the Cover. Judge a Book by Its Editor, Says Maurice Oginga The Literature Guru
"What happens when a book deliberately sets out to provoke? In this conversation, literary critic Maurice Oginga takes a critical look at Dr. Kavirondo, pointing to the gaps in the book and the sweeping generalisations made by its author. But beyond the flaws…
This Is Why Luo Men Are Marrying Outside the Luo Community| Part 3
"In Chapter 3, Dr. Kavirondo is told that the reason Luo men are increasingly marrying outside the Luo community has everything to do with Luo women — and their attitude towards money, luxury and the future. The argument? A Luo woman wants the best of…
Dr Kavirondo: Promise me you'll have a Luo wife | Part 1
What happens when mourning turns into a fight over the dead man’s belongings? After the death of Brigadier Fred Kavirondo, thousands descend on his home to mourn. But as the family grieves, mourners begin carrying away clothes, furniture, utensils and other…
Barbara Adair on Indian Kenyan Communities and Nairobi's Architectural Heritage
What do buildings remember long after the people who built them are gone? In this episode of the Books in Africa Podcast, Tracy Ochieng speaks with South African writer Barbara Adair about her new book, The Art Deco Buildings of Nairobi, which documents the…
Who Gets to Tell the African Story? Ginny Clay on Warrior Boy, Identity and Storytelling
Can a story belong to a place if its writer comes from somewhere else? In this episode, Virginia Clay joins us to discuss Warrior Boy, identity, cultural representation, and the power of stories to help young readers find where they belong.
Empress Ciku Kimani Mwaniki on Finding Happiness, Muting the World, and Humanizing Nairobi's Pariahs in Nairobi Cocktail
In this episode, author Empress Ciku Kimani Mwaniki discusses her "chaotic" approach to life and her bestselling NaiRoberry Cocktail series. Ciku explains her philosophy that women must "mute the world" and make themselves happy, independent of relationships…
Ginny Clay on Writing Warrior Boy and Redefining Courage
In this episode, we explore Warrior Boy by Virginia Clay, a powerful coming-of-age story set between London and Kenya. At the centre of the novel is Ben Olmoran — a twelve-year-old boy who dreams of being courageous, even though fear often holds him back…
Vivian Kabono on After 4:30 and why freedom still feels unfinished for so many women.
In this episode, Kenya Theatre Awards nominee Vivian Kabono joins us to discuss her role as Lili in After 4:30, the powerful stage adaptation of David Maillu’s 1974 verse novel set in post-independence Nairobi. In this intimate theatre podcast conversation…
Playing Power: Martin Kigondu on After 4.30, Masculinity, and the Cost of Staying in Theatre
In this episode, Kenya Theatre Awards nominee Martin Kigondu discusses his leading role as Nikolas Mukoko in After 4.30, the acclaimed stage adaptation of David Maillu’s 1974 novel set in post-independence Nairobi. After 4.30 is a powerful Kenyan theatre…
"I Wrote My First Autobiography at 12 Years Old" In Conversation with Betty Kilonzo
In this episode of the Books in Africa podcast, Tracy Ochieng is joined by Betty Kilonzo, the author of Househelp Manual, a practical guide on domestic work. The conversation explores the realities of domestic labour, focusing on the often-unspoken challenges…
Episode 5: Othuke Ominiabohs: Why Africans Don't Read
Do African writers living on the continent have stories worth telling? Othuke Ominiabohs, novelist and CEO of Masobe Books, challenges common misconceptions in this candid conversation with Tracy Ochieng. Together, they unpack why reading culture struggles in…
Episode 4: Live with The Cikus at NYrobi Book Fest
In this episode, Tracy Ochieng is joined by Empress Ciku Kimani Mwaniki, author of NaiRobbery Cocktail, and Ciku Kimeria, author of Dance of the Monkeys, for a spirited conversation on a decade of Kenyan storytelling. They explore the starring role Nairobi…
Episode 3: The Gospel According to Sarah Haluwa
In this episode, Tracy Ochieng sits down with author Sarah Haluwa to discuss her publishing journey and her captivating book, Sinners. Haluwa shares her thoughts on the unequal dynamics of sex, arguing that women often get the short end of the stick. She…
Episode 2: Literary Libations featuring Empress Ciku Kimani-Mwaniki
James Murua shakes, stirs, and sips his way through the literary world of Ciku Kimani-Mwaniki, the brilliant author behind the beloved Cocktail series. Known for blending wit, grit, and charm into every story, Ciku spills the tea (or is it a mojito?) on her…
Episode 1: The Heart in Her Poetry featuring Scholastica Moraa
In this premier episode of Books in Africa podcast, James Murua chats with poet Scholastica Moraa about her path from scribbles to published pages. In 2024, Scholastica published her latest anthology, When Love Says Goodbye; known as, Sometimes, Love Lives…
Coming Soon!
Welcome to Books in Africa, the podcast that dives into the vibrant world of contemporary African literature! Here we explore the stories, the writers, and the unique voices shaping the continent’s literary landscape. Whether you're an avid reader, a curious…