Kwani?

Kwani? Journal #1

by Kwani Trust (Publisher), Binyavanga Wainaina (Editor)

Kwani? is Africa’s most exciting new writing initiative, and these works have won and been shortlisted for the Caine Prize. The content includes poems, short stories and serious nonfiction pieces. The short story, Weight of Whispers by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, won the 2003 Caine Prize for African Writing.

Genres: Africa

Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

The weight of the book is proved by the' weight of whispers' short story by Yvonne Owour that won in the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2003. With Binyavanga Wainaina as it's editor, Kwani is a collection of short stories, poems, interviews and comics represented in the hardest yet funniest core. My favorite was a story by an anonymous Jango who wrote a letter explaining his ordeal with a woman in a pub whom he assumed to be naive yet beautiful. Then a response was written back to him by Muthoni Garland and Wainaina who identified themselves as the woman in the letter and why she behaved the way she did to Jango at the pub. This book is beautifully written by the best authors Kenya has ever had. It is the first in the many Kwani series.

[Achieng Onguru · Rating 5 out of 5]

My brother wrote an awesome piece in this edition and that's why I love it!

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a first time effort, Kwani? is an excellent telling of the Kenyan condition right after the 'second liberation' of 2003. In addition, it is a picture of how the Kenyan story is at home side by side with stories of love in China, Rwandese emigres struggling with a world that refused to acknowledge them after the Genocide, tales of Zanzibar, the cartoons of Gado, blending into a delightful, gripping read.

[Jeremy Hopkins]

On my shelf. Have read bits