Celebration of African Writers Series: Honouring Ken Walibora

Comrades Book House, Cheche Bookshop, and other collaborators in the Kenyan literature scene are hosting monthly celebrations to honor African authors. This April, they are paying tribute to the late Ken Walibora, who tragically passed away three years ago this month. Walibora was one of the most prolific authors in Kenya, having authored over 40 titles.

One of Walibora's most famous works is the novel "Siku Njema," which was published in 1996 and quickly made him a household name in Swahili fiction. The book tells the story of a young man named Msanifu Kombo, who was born in Tanga, Tanzania, and faced family hardships with his single mother, a talented singer of Taarab.

Being born out of wedlock made life even more difficult for him, as his schoolmates chided him in a culture that frowned upon children born outside of marriage. Walibora also wrote "Kidagaa Kimeoza," which featured clever political commentary and was used as a secondary school set book in 2013. His other works include "Kufa Kuzikana," "Tuzo," "Ndoto ya Almasi," "Damu Nyeusi," and "Ndoto Ya Amerika."

On Saturday, April 22nd, Kiswahili Literature enthusiasts will gather at the Alliance Francasise Media Library from 3:00pm-5:00PM to honor Walibora's memory. There will be discussions about his work and readings from his books.

Professor Mohammed Bakari will speak about Kiswahili as a Pan-African language and its contribution to the fiction genre. Attendees will also have the opportunity to mingle with new Kiswahili writers and purchase their work on that day. Monaja and Dorphan will provide performances, and admission is free.