🇰🇪WANJIRU KOINANGE for 🇿🇦 The African Imaginary at Ake Book Festival 🇳🇬 Wanjiru Koinange is a Kenyan writer, cultural practitioner, and co-founder of Book Bunk, an organisation working to restore some of Nairobi’s most iconic public libraries. Her work explores the intersection of literature, public memory, and access to cultural infrastructure. She is the author of The Havoc of Choice, a bestselling novel that examines the human cost of political unrest in Kenya. Through Book Bunk, Wanjiru has led the transformation of three public libraries in Nairobi, turning them into vibrant, inclusive spaces that respond to the needs of their communities. Her writing and cultural work are driven by a deep belief in the power of stories and public spaces to shape identity and foster connection. She is currently working on her next novel and building a long-term vision for culture, care, and knowledge production in Africa.
Here are her 5 favourite African books:
1. Do As You Are Told, Baji! – Lola Shoneyin
2. The Lions’ Den – Iris Mwanza
3. Love Does Not Win Elections – Ayisha Osori
4. The Sex Lives of African Women – Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah
5. Half of A Yellow Sun – Chimamanda Adichie
