Kwani? 06: African Fiction Omnibus

Kwani? Journal #6

by Kwani Trust (Publisher), Billy Kahora (Editor)

Kwani? 06, is an anthology of short fiction and poetry by Kenyan And African writers born after September 1978. Farah Aideed Goes To Gulf War by Mehul Gohil is a dystopic paean that explodes our obsessions with mono-Kenyan identity and binary understanding of Nairobi (Nairobbery vs Green City In The Sun) into a huge chessboard patchwork of lives. The runners up and second runners up, respectively, All In The Family by Brenda Mukami and The Activist by Wilson Wahome are interrogations of national political culture through dysfunctional families.Chicken by Benjamin Ikaal is a fable of political dynamics through the eyes of that domestic bird. Baboon House by Waigwa Ndiangui is a bleak apocalyptic look at a family in Nakuru threatened within by its internal cracks and without by a troop of baboons. ‘Africa’ is strongly represented by Nigeria, Uganda, Somalia, Ghana, South Africa and Cameroun. Earthling by Diriye Osman, Demonstrations Of Craziness by Akenji Ndumu and Three Levels Of Elevation by Michael Akiyo Asaja give the Kenyan stories a serious run for their money. Poetry compiled by Stephen Partington and Ngwatilo Mawiyoo mirrors the prose.

525 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Moses Kilolo]

There is some serious talent in Kenya, and pretty young for that matter. and you only need to read Kwani 6 to see that. In it you will find poetry, lots, and lots of brilliant short stories from here as well as from other African writers.

[Esther Neema Mumo]

I had had such a great crave to read great Africa short stories. This is after introduction to short stories through Encounters from Africa. This book has brought about that great satisfaction I was longing for. I like most of the stories whilst I looooooved others.

My favourite being SEVEN YELLOW BRASSIERE FOR FRIED EGGS- BY TESIRO DORE. I thought that was awesomely hilarious. He marries his words with sarcasm, which is absolutely amazingly humerous.

He says on his first page "First I am not studying singing and clapping like most students in school. Second medicine is not an easy course. How can I pray more than I can possibly study? Five times! That is excessive. I can't even pray now. How can I pray without ablutions? How would I perfom ablutions with guns on my skull?"....He further says, "I had always tried to rehabilitate Laide, but some people naturally gravitate towards failure"

I love his writing so much so I was in tears. I woould read the story again and again.

My second fave story is the story of MY SMEELLY MOUTH PROBLEM- BY A.IGONI BARRET

Now here I was in tear. I laughed was in stitches and could not believe this guys humor. It was the most hilarious story in the book. First it is in his description and how he insist on describing everything and how the events turned out. The best part is how he begun with an end. I was extremely fascinated.


My third fave is ALL IN THE FAMILY- BY BRENDA MUKAMI

Our very own Kenya. I think she is a brilliant mind. I was glued to the story form beginning to the end. The story is captivating, makes you curious and then again it ends unpredictably. It was such a great story.

There were some stories that utterly moved me, like the one of the story of the boy who had to steal to get his fees. it was so real and really moving. However there were those stories that were too absorbed in rules of literature in terms of over describing and in the end were not as captivating. Some were unrelatable, but the overall book was an amazing experience to read. It really showed the theme, the city I live in very well

[Kairo Kimende]

If you are looking for African writing that is not seen through the eyes of Ngugi wa Thiongo, Soyinka, Achebe, Grace Ogot, Naguib Mahfouz and their likes; If you want something fresh and new from Africa; If you are tired of themes such as colonialism; this is the book you are looking for. These young contemporaries are the embodiment of Africa's second generation literature. I give Mehul Gohil 5 stars for Bass Weejuns on tiptoes because I still read it, 4 stars to his Farah Aideed, 4 stars to a few others such as Dennis Kabi's Three balls dog and the comic Leaving Eldoret, I give 3 stars to most that I forgot soon after I finished. The book is mostly what Kenyan and African readers will definitely identify with.

[Corvinus Maximilus]

I liked about 70% of the stories...most of them were self-indulgent, smacked of self-importance. We need our own truths as Africans.