STORYMOJA

What is the future of African writing? The face of it is in young writers such as Petina Gappah from Zimbabwe, Chika Unigwe from Nigeria and Monica Arac from Uganda. Is it a coincidence that they all live away from their “homelands”? Do African women writers tell differently the myriad stories to be told? Do they face similar challenges as their male counterparts? How do these writers juggle motherhood, multiple careers and writing?

Lee Siegel recently participated in several panels of prestigious authors through the Iowa Writing Program for workshops at the University of Nairobi and KU. He was later asked to guest lecture at UoN. He will be at the Storymoja Hay Festival Sessions described here…

Toni Kan is an award winning poet, essayist and short story writer. One of Nigeria’s most anthologised young poets and short story writers. Toni Kan is the author of the critically acclaimed poetry collection When a dream lingers too long and novella Ballad of Rage both of which received honourable mentions at the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and LNG Literature prize competitions in 2003 and 2004 respectively.

Dr. Bibi Bakare-Yusuf is a publisher, based in Abuja, Nigeria. She started Cassava Republic Press in 2006. Join her in the Storymoja Hay Festival sessions described here…

Mrs. Lorna Omuodo is the Founder and Programme Director of Vanilla Development Foundation (VDF). VDF has developed rural farmer’s capacity towards bio fuel production using Jatropha as a candidate crop for Kenya’s clean energy security and bio energy needs. She will be at the SHFK, Read here for more details…

Learn from a master how to express your political opinions in a way that convinces your readers, AND also invites and inspires them with Mukoma wa Ngugi

Judy Kibinge’s films; Coming of Age and Killer Necklace (MNET Production), both award winning short films as well as The Man who knew too much, a short documentary about Goldenberg whistleblower, David Munyakei will be shown at the Storymoja Hay Festival on Friday, 31st July, 2009 at 4pm to 5.30 at the Impala Club Grounds.

Join Stanley and other winners and nominees of the Caine Prize, Wahome Mutahi Prize and Jomo Kenyatta Prize in this discussion on Saturday, August 1st at 2 – 3:30pm at the Storymoja Hay Festival, at Impala Club Grounds.

The Storymoja Hay Festival will feature 132 events based on themes such as Literature, Environment, Gender, ICT, Health, Diversity, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Culture, Gender, Beauty and Self-Development , designed to attract different target groups of different interests.

Tolu Ogunlesi will be at the Storymoja Hay Festival, participating in a discussion on blogs and social networks with Kaume Marambii and Eudiah Kamonjoh on Friday 31st July, 2:00 pm to 3:30pm.