STAGE PROGRAMME

2pm -3pm: Talk to Kwani?
Established in 2003, Kwani Trust is a Kenyan based literary network dedicated to developing quality creative writing and committed to the growth of the creative industry through the publishing and distribution of contemporary African writing, offering training opportunities, producing literary events and establishing and maintaining global literary networks. Get a chance to sample Kwani? titles and mingle with the Kwani? team, as the Executive Director- Angela Wachuka and the Editorial team discuss upcoming events, publications and talk about opportunities for writers.

3pm -4pm: Literary Salon & Speed-Date-A-Writer
An hour of readings and conversations with Clifton Gachagua- recipient of the 2013 inaugural Sillerman Prize for African Poetry, Kioko Ndinda and Linda Musita both writers from the Africa 39 Project, a selection of 39 writers under the age of 40 who have the potential and the talent to define the trends that will mark the future development of literature. Instead of the usual Q&A session, the three featured writers will invite the audience for a speed-date session to discuss their works and answer questions.

4pm -5pm: Spoken Wor:l:ds Project
Documentary screening and performances from two hip-hop artists and two spoken word artists who were part of SPOKEN WOR:L:DS a literary exchange  between Nairobi and Berlin that brought together eight artists from both cities to explore the contemporary aesthetics of poetry, spoken word and Hip Hop. The project picks up on impulses of Nairobi based artists with their vast variety of styles, languages and genres in the realm of performative poetry. The spoken Wor:l:ds project artists featured from Nairobi: Checkmate, L-Ness, Ogutu Muraya, Wanjiku Mwaurah, Namatsi, Sitawa Namwalie, Octopizzo and Poetic Bee. Artists from Berlin: Josefine Berkholz, Diamondog, Erko, Christian Filips, MC Josh, LMNZ, Joe Madog and Birgit Kreipe.

5pm-6pm: Kwani Open Mic: B+W Edition
Kwani? Open Mic comes to Blankets & Wine! Sign up to perform/ read your poetry between 2:30pm and 4:30pm at the Kwani? stage. At 5pm, the MC will use the list to call up the performers to recite or read their poetry and spoken word pieces.Kwani? Open Mic is now in its eighth year, and  is a monthly poetry and spoken word event held every first Tuesday of the month at IMAX Cinema on Mama Ngina Street. Each event features a poet / spoken word artist who has shown consistency and growth in performance and audience pull. Past features include, Ngwatio Mawiyoo, Phyllis Muthoni, Winyo, Eko dydda, Just-A Band, Juliani, Kenyan Poet (Njeri Wangari), Uko Fulani Mau Mau and others.