Nairobi’s Literary Networks 1963-1978: Locating Publishing Histories is an AHRC-funded research project which will work to produce a new account of and approach to Nairobi’s literary and publishing histories from 1963 to 1978. The research will locate and analyse the exchanges which forged, connected and sustained new arts spaces and literary initiatives – from the physical spaces of Chemchemi, Paa Ya Paa and Jonathan Kariara’s house to the textual spaces of the Modern African Library and magazines Joe, Zuka and Ghala – which established Nairobi as a creative and intellectual centre across this period. 

Working collaboratively with Saseni! and Book Bunk, the project will design and produce innovative digital resources and events building out of this research.

Positioning Nairobi’s literary networks within a regional, pan-African and global context, in collaboration with the Department of Literature at University of Nairobi, the project will co-organise a conference focused on Eastern African Literary and Publishing Networks in the 1960s and 1970s. Following a successful Call for Papers, this will take place between 10 and 11 August 2026 at University of Nairobi and the papers will form the foundation of a new collection of essays edited by Godwin Siundu, Kate Wallis and Billy Kahora.

Download the conference programme here and register for the conference here.

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