Equipoise: 2020 Anthology of the Nairobi Writing Academy

by Makena Onjerika

Ten new stories from Kenya. Herein are to be found vampires and gods; sex toys and exhibitionists; divorces and soon-to-be divorcees; heart attacks and heartbreaks; grief unending, bad decisions and unexpected salvation; the unemployed, troubled expatriates, hustlers and conmen; adventures in Nairobi, Dar es Salam, Mt. Elgon and everywhere in between; friends who are not just friends, unruly relatives and beloved but complicated parents. Featured authors Miriam Amoit Rumona Apiyo Nyasili Atetwe Clarie Gor Alvin Kathembe Duncan Mwangi Aggrey Oriwo Gladwell Pamba Natalie Sifuma Kiprono Tonui This anthology represents the work of authors who have participated in fiction classes at the Nairobi Writing Academy, an organization run by 2018 Caine Prize for African Writing winner, Makena Onjerika.

158 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 29, 2020

About the author

Makena Onjerika is a Kenyan writer, who won the 2018 Caine Prize for African Writing for her short story entitled "Fanta Blackcurrant", published in Wasafiri (2017)

Makena is a graduate of the MFA Creative Writing programme at New York University, and has been published in Urban Confusions and Wasafiri.

She founded the Nairobi Fiction Writing Workshop and edited the anthology Digital Bedbugs, composed of the stories from the workshop.

She lives in Nairobi, Kenya, and is currently working on a fantasy novel.

Reviews

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was literally a bump in my reading and I have loved it. It’s an anthology of short stories written by Kenyan writers unknown in mainstream. I enjoyed these stories, they were realistic and entertaining, some I would have enjoyed if they were longer. Well done Naiwa, for sure I will be looking for digital bedbugs.

Two stories are permanently etched in my mind, Mama Fua and Dar es Salaam cocktail. I related with the content like I was there. Some of the stories left me confused but it was an overall well done book. Recommend to lovers of short stories. Very different from Joan Thatiah.

[Kimberley Champagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was magical.
The work of the academy is outstanding providing upcoming Kenyan authors a platform to share their stories.
Each story represents a unique inkling of the different backgrounds of Kenya.
It was fun to discover these authors works and I cannot wait to be reading Novels from each of them.
Thank you Makena for this wonderful project and to all the authors for their magic.

[Natalie Sifuma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy to see stories of emerging writers from Nairobi! A well put together anthology with a number of themes, but death and grief seemed the most prevalent. There was humour in some and others were cringe-worthy, however, overall, it was an enjoyable book!

[Paulina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful and provoking collection of short stories. I enjoyed some more than others, some hooked me in and I finished them in mere minutes, great diversity of writing and tales. I loved the way all the stories transported you to different parts of Kenya.

[mwangi · Rating 3 out of 5]

the originality of every author is clear. still, the stories fit perfectly together thanks to the recurring themes. i loved the magical realism, the tension, the vices…proof that kenyan fiction is not afraid to be bold.

[Faith aka Suckerforcoffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up