QUICK DELIVERY
Swift dispatch
Betrayed by Home
The sun was setting in the Maasai Mara, painting the horizon with an array of vibrant orange and red hues. As night descended, the small village that was nestled in the center of the savanna became illuminated, with the most notable structure being the hut that belonged to the young Maasai boy and his aunt and uncle.
In this amazing anthology, you get a chance to interact with amazing African short stories narrated by Africans. It covers a wide range of thematic concerns from different authorial perspectives hence portraying diversity in African Literature.
Beyond Limits
The Village Whistle and Other Stories
The Village Whistles and Other Stories is set in Western Kenya, the coastal line of Eastern Africa and other parts of the world.
The collection is a basketful of memorable real-life adventures and escapades. Maurice Misiko and Ombati Ombogo take you to the past, which mingles with the present in humorous and captivating incidents that convey values, beliefs and customs.
Allegories and euphemism combined with anecdotes highlight poverty, education, superstition and traditions. The stories enter- tain, educate and preserve cultures for present and future genera- tions.
Colour of the Skunk
The late Wilson Lwandhle Magadhla served in the South African Police Force at the peak of the struggle against the apartheid regime. Even as he remained true to his profession of policing, his heart remained with the freedom fighters; he yearned for a country underlined by equality before the law. Merit, he felt, should be the basis of judging persons rather than the colour of their skin.
Drawing suspicion from both sides of the struggle, the good soldier soldiered on, balancing between loyalty to his people and the profession of keeping law and order.
So what were the conditions like in policing during the years of apartheid? What was life like for a black police officer serving under the authority of one of the most repressive and detested regimes in the world? How did black policemen balance between the need for liberation from the oppressive order of apartheid and their duty to do law enforcement?
Following the fall of the apartheid regime, the author went on to serve in Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that was chaired by the Reverend Desmond Tutu. Magadhla was the head of the Special Investigative Section of the commission.
Published posthumously, The Colour of the Skunk is a book for historical records, providing an insider’s account of working in government founded racial discrimination
Beyond the Morning
Beyond the Morning touches on real life facets and their modulation on the rhythm of life. It has themes (life, death, loneliness, setbacks, success and more) that punctuate daily experiences across spaces (rural and urban), age (young and old), gender (men and women) and more.
What others say
“The author’s themes are clearly expressed in the context, as they soothe a wounded soul!” -Wilson Oluoch.
“Beyond the Morning is an epitome of art, the very repository of human soul. It contains gems of philosophy and snatches of lyric rhythm artistically put and laced with beautiful syntax. Grab a copy and enjoy a mouth- watering menu of poems resplendent in imagery” - Patrick Okoyo Awino, Journalist, Communications specialist & Media scholar.
Crossing the Border
The collapse of the Berlin Wall on November 9th,1989 marked the beginning of multi-party politics in many parts of the Third World. The same also held true for African countries. The political landscape changed. In Kenya, the early 1990s were years of ethnic cleansing through arson, land clashes, evictions, forcible displacement, and murder of members of communities then perceived to be sympathetic to the opposition. What happened to those years’ children continues to live in the collective memory of today’s adult Kenyans.
Crossing the Border is a novella which captures that moment in Kenya’s history. It fictionalises the experiences of a schoolboy in a tiny village called Odiya, situated at the border between Kenya’s Nyanza and Rift Valley provinces, near the small town of Songhor, in early 1992.
Not only does the story record the sadness of those years, it also focuses on proper education as an important agent for national awareness, human compassion, and communal reconciliation especially in the case of children and young citizens. The book is dedicated to all child victims of political violence anywhere in the world, but more so in Africa, where similar evils are still regularly planned and executed by governments in power.
What Others Say
“Abenea Ndago explored and revealed a uniquely Kenyan territory in his earlier novel, Voices. ‘Crossing the Border’, an equally refreshing read makes western Kenya’s past ethnic strife uniquely his own. This is the work of a master who trod the very hills, rivers, streams, sugarcane plantations and tribal idiosyncrasies of his characters and painfully evokes and retells the tribal spirits of postcolonial Kenya. Though written, the narrative is a griot’s account of inter- ethnic history of the Luo and their neighbours, the Kalenjin and the kisiis, and the inevitable competing tribal consciousness .The politically instigated tribal wars of the 1990s in Kenya is immortalized in this postcolonial Kenyan narrative by a relatively young novelist”. - Mahat Hassan, Kenyan Literary Critic.
The Dreamer
Imali Abala’s The Dreamer is a book-length poem; a poetic novella, an unrelenting meditation upon the abuse of women that centres upon the unfortunate path of the dreamer. En route, the links between madness and dreams are explored, a mythical explanation for inheritable insanities, the devastating impacts of culture change and social fragmentation, and the breathlessness of having a tight fist of possibilities and a palette of advisors who all turn the dreamer away, or inward, with no path found for her self-expressive flourishing in the world.
What Others Say
Touching upon historic and contemporary challenges, this work calls upon all who are in contact with girls and women, in any capacity, to open the world and make room, to clear a space for upcoming generations, on a path strewn with good guidance and marked by the freedom to explore, to walk along a path made solid with life-affirmations.” - Joanne Arnott, Canada, author of A Night for the Lady, Mother Time, Wiles of Girlhood, and Breasting the Waves: On Writing & Healing.
“Imali Abala’s The Dreamer is a must read for those seeking to understand female condition in post-colonial Africa. … What stands out in this story is that women have choices in redefining and repackaging their image in a male dominated world.” - Iddah Aoko Otieno, Editor of East African Anthology of Short Stories.
Moody Mood and Courage the Friend
Moody Mood and Jumbo the bully
Moody Mood has done it again! Happy to be back in school after the holidays, Moody Mood runs into an unsettling scene when he sees Jumba, the bully, threatening a smaller boy.
Moody Mood springs into action in the boy’s defense. Without the physical might of Jumba, would Moody’s courage under fire save the day?
Mother Rat and Her Son Chepsoo
This children’s book teaches about the importance of good behavior and manner among children. It teaches them among other things to respect their parents and elders.
Dorothy Jebet has more than 18 years’ experience in the Kenyan journalism scene. She has worked for various media houses including the Nation Media Group, The Standard, the defunct Kenya Times, The Star and Kass FM in various capacities. She is currently an independent consultant and analyst on matters of journalism and media.
She has had extensive training in the world of journalism, including a stint on US Congressional Reporting under the Bill Clinton Administration.
Dorothy’s work is extensive, some of which has attracted international attention. Her story on the early marriage of a 16 year-old girl won her a Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) sponsorship to study Human Rights and Administration at Lund University.
Kally the Pet
Kally the Pet is a story of a girl and her pet. Babby shows her devotion to her pet, Kally. She feeds, bathes, and plays with her. It hurts Babby to see Kally hurt and she learns to thank those who offer care for her pet
Kally the Pet is about caring, discipline and responsibility. It is a story about caring and lessons on being grateful.
Kim Says Sorry
Ann and the Pen
Tessy and the Mango Tree
Chokora: A Kenyan Scavenger
John Patrick and Martin Joseph are two teens born in the dusty, poor neighbourhood of Huruma in Nairobi. Raised by single unemployed mothers, they turn to scavenging for valuables in the city’s middle-class neighbourhoods to survive the harsh life of Huruma. City residents have labeled them Chokora, a derogatory term to describe human scavengers. And they use this effectively. For them, the Chokora façade is a camouflage as the two youths go about their exploits, including stealing from unsuspecting residents. As fate would have it, the duo ends up in a police cell to face the full reality of their escapades. Chokora! A Kenyan Scavenger is a poetic narration of the reasons most of the urban youth turn to crime. There is a lot of attention paid to the protection of the girl-child in Kenya, while neglecting the boy child. John and Martin have never known their biological fathers and are forced to adopt their mothers’ names instead. From the perspective of many, unconventional naming is an embarrassment amidst the cruel surroundings.
Voices
n the small town of Soghor in Nyanza, Kenya, there exists a myth dating back to colonial times. It relates to people, termed kachinja, who were rumoured to prowl the area, arresting passers-by and tapping their blood. Supposedly, Songhor survived this way throughout the colonial period and into Kenya’s independence.
Following emancipation, the White Highlands reverted to the indigenous population, and a settlement for the Luo, Kalenjin and Kisii communities. Folklore has it that people routinely dashed for the bushes whenever they saw a red car approaching. Its white owner is said to have used the car to transport captured Africans for slaughter. The man lived near the Songhor Museum Site that was founded by two white men in 1932, and gazetted in 1981. Two African families in nearby Tamu and Muhoroni are rumoured to have been complicit, acting as ‘catchers’ of Africans.
At the white man’s homestead, the main house had a bunker-like hole with a small door, and a grilled opening. Keen observations lead to curious revelations.
This is a fictionalized account based on a long-held myth. It is meant for enjoyment.
Proverbs of the Abagusii of Kenya Chr...
Like most cultural groups, the oral tradition of Abagusii People of Kenya is expressed in, among others, proverbs. These capture lessons and meaning, modulated by time and context as they are passed down generations. Like riddles and metaphors, proverbs express the wisdom of a culture and find apt applications in many situations. Christopher Okemwa's work documents some of the proverbs of Abagusii, their meaning, context in which they are used and application thereof. In this book proverbs are documented in the original form accompanied by English translations in addition to lessons they offer. Embedded in this collection are cultural aspects such beliefs and norms which touch on many aspects of Abagusii society. These aspects include relationships among people, communal life, gender matters, economic issues and many more.
Here is what others say
"Through careful transcription and translation of proverbs of Abagusii people of Kenya, Okemwa shares knowledge and cultural diversity as a wide range of themes and motifs recur hence multiplying meanings and implications. The proverbs explore both socio-political and socio-economic issues, in addition to fulfilling an aesthetic function." - Gladys Nyaiburi Ogaro, Mount. Kenya University
"The uniqueness of this work lies in its use of Ekegusii language to impart culture of Abagusii on the reader through the imagery in proverbs. The advantage of 'hearing' Ekegusii first hand, its literal and deep meaning provided, makes it ideal for students and teachers of language and culture in learning institutions. The work also preserves, for posterity, wisdom that may become extinct with the passage of time." - Margaret Kemunto Obaga, Catholic University, Nairobi, Kenya
"Christopher Okemwa's Proverbs of Abagusii of Kenya: Meaning & Application captures and radiates, with delight, the wisdom and beauty in Abagusii proverbs. For Ekegusii speakers, the proverbs nudge one to take a deep look at oneself and see how entertaining they can be. For non-speakers of the language the translation provided gives the poems versatility in content and pervasive reach, thus making them universal pieces of erudition that challenge and encourage. The proverb, 'Naigure ndumo boina ko mosiori ntamanya' (I have heard noise coming from grave diggers, but I am not sure who will be first to be interred), for instance, warns everybody against the barbarism of intransigence and physical confrontations, a universal piece of wisdom. Reading this invaluable book is a sure-fire route to intellectual nourishment. Okemwa has documented answers to our deep-seated questions on our socio- cultural, socio-economic and socio-political queries as captured by Abagusii proverbs. The wisdom therein helps one pry into one's own inadequacies and learn to challenge adversity." - Bwocha Nyagemi Bwocha, St. Augustine University, Tanzania
Yananiandama na Hadithi Nyingine
Yananiandama na Hadithi Nyingine ni mkusanyiko wa hadithi fupi zinazolenga hadhira ya wanafunzi, wasomaji wa kawaida na wataalamu wowote wale. Huu ni mkusanyiko unaowaleta pamoja waandishi walio na viwango vya juu vya ubunifu na ukwasi wa lugha. Hadithi zilizomo kwa ujumla zinagusa nafasi na nafsi ya msomaji. Bila shaka, msomaji yeyote wa mkusanyiko huu atagundua kuwa waandishi wake ni wenye uwezo mkubwa katika utunzi, fauka ya kuwa wengine wao wanalimbukia fasihi andishi. Naam, ulimbukeni wao umeleta sura ngeni katika ulimwengu wa fasihi andishi.
Jeff Mandila ni mmoja wa waandishi wanaoinukia kwa kasi mno. Ni mwandishi wa riwaya, tamthilia na hadithi fupi kando na utunzi wa mashairi. Alizaliwa karibu na mji wa Kitale mwaka wa 1985. Alijishindia tuzo ya Wahome Mutahi 2012 baada ya riwaya yake ya Sikitiko la Sambaya kuibuka ya kwanza.
Geoffrey Mung’ou ambaye pia ni mwandishi wa riwaya ya Mkakasi ni mhariri katika Shirika la Habari la Standard. Ana shahada katika kitivo cha Elimu (Kiswahili na Historia-Chuo Kikuu cha Kenyatta). Ametoa mchango mkubwa kuhusu Kiswahili katika vyombo vya habari, kwenye makongamano na shuleni. Aidha, amekuwa mwalimu wa somo la Kiswahili katika shule kadhaa za upili nchini Kenya. Mbali na kazi hizi za fasihi, ameibukia na vitabu adhimu kuhusu fani nyinginezo za lugha.
Nimepoteza Tena na Hadithi Nyingine
Nimepoteza Tena na Hadithi Nyingine ni mkusanyiko wa hadithi fupi zinazolenga hadhira ya wanafunzi, wasomaji wa kawaida na wataalamu wowote wale. Huu ni mkusanyiko unaowaleta pamoja waandishi walio na viwango vya juu vya ubunifu na ukwasi wa lugha. Hadithi zilizomo kwa ujumla zinagusa nafasi na nafsi ya msomaji. Bila shaka, msomaji yeyote wa mkusanyiko huu atagundua kuwa waandishi wake ni wenye uwezo mkubwa katika utunzi, fauka ya kuwa wengine wao wanalimbukia fasihi andishi. Naam, ulimbukeni wao umeleta sura ngeni katika ulimwengu wa fasihi andishi.
Kikechi Kombo B. ana Shahada ya elimu na sanaa na shahada ya uzamili kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Kenyatta. Ni mwalimu mwenye tajiriba pana katika lugha na fasihi ya Kiswahili kwa miaka mingi. Hushiriki uchambuzi wa lugha na fasihi katika Idhaa ya Radio Taifa- KBC. Ameandika vitabu vya marudio katika lugha ya Kiswahili na miongozo tolatola mathalan mwongozo wa Chozi la Heri, mwongozo wa Kigogo, mwongozo wa Kidagaa Kimemwozea na mwongozo wa Mstahiki Meya. Amechangia pia katika kitabu cha marudio cha Kioo Cha KCSE, Mwongozo wa Nguu za Jadi na Mapambazuko ya Machweo na hadithi nyingine miongoni mwa vitabu vingine.
Kenna Wasike ni mwandishi wa kazi za fasihi. Ameandika kazi aula za bunilizi. Aidha, amechangia katika uandishi wa hadithi fupi. Hadithi yake maarufu ni ‘Mapenzi ya Kifaurongo’ katika mkusanyiko wa Tumbo Lisiloshiba na Hadithi Nyingine. Vilevile, amechangia katika uandishi wa kitabu cha marudio ya fasihi. Kwa sasa yeye ni mwalimu wa Kiswahili katika Shule ya wavulana ya Chesamisi iliyoko gatuzi la Bungoma nchini Kenya.
Mzee Kambirani na Hadithi Nyingine
Mzee Kambirani na Hadithi Nyingine ni mkusanyiko wa hadithi fupi zinazolenga hadhira ya wanafunzi, wasomaji wa kawaida na wataalamu wowote wale. Huu ni mkusanyiko unaowaleta pamoja waandishi walio na viwango vya juu vya ubunifu na ukwasi wa lugha. Hadithi zilizomo kwa ujumla zinagusa nafasi na nafsi ya msomaji. Bila shaka, msomaji yeyote wa mkusanyiko huu atagundua kuwa waandishi wake ni wenye uwezo mkubwa katika utunzi, fauka ya kuwa wengine wao wanalimbukia fasihi andishi. Naam, ulimbukeni wao umeleta sura ngeni katika ulimwengu wa fasihi andishi.