Siku njema

by Ken Walibora

Siku Njema is a popular Swahili novel written by the renowned Kenyan author, Ken Walibora. The novel was published in 1996 and saw Walibora become an instant household name in Swahili fiction. Written in the first person.

Genres: Africa, Novels, Fiction

150 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Ken Walibora Waliaula held a Ph.D. in Comparative Cultural Studies from the Ohio State University, USA. He served as an Assistant Professor of African Languages and Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. His research interests cover culture,memory,trauma,world literature, postcolonial literature, Anglophone African continental and diasporic literatures,and Swahiliphone literature. He is a prolific Kiswahili fiction writer with a literary oeuvre exceeding thirty titles and has won several awards. He won the Jomo Kenyatta Literature Prize twice with his Swahili texts, Ndoto ya Amerika (An American Dream)in 2003 and Kisasi Hapana(No to Revenge)in 2009. He had published a number of book chapters and articles in academic journals including Research in African Literatures and Journal of the Association of African Literature(JALA),and Journal of African Language Teachers Association(JALTA) and Masculinity in African Cultural and Literary Texts. He was working on a book project addressing the literature of Kenyan political prisoners.

Reviews

[Raphael Manyasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Siku Njema is a popular Swahili novel written by the renowned Kenyan author, Ken Walibora. The novel was published in 1996 and saw Walibora become an instant household name in Swahili fiction. Written in the first person, the book deals with the life of a young man, Msanifu Kombo who is born in Tanga, Tanzania and who faces family hardships with his single mother, who is a talented singer of taarab. Being a child born out of wedlock does not make life easier for him as he is chided by his schoolmates in a culture that frowns upon illegitimate children.

[Karanja Mose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saying the book was excellent is an understatement. Ken Walibora convinced my young mind to travel with him to the very end of his work.
The mastery of the Swahili lingua, the rich analogies and the general theme of HOPE makes it a swahili masterpiece.

[Anthony Etyang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written book.Actually read it a few weeks ago(not as a high school set book!)Tuikuze lugha yetu jamani

[Shamim Ventos]

i love the story.it covers all the encient norns snd traditios of eadt Africa

[Nduko Elvis Nyanaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ken Walibora ni mwandishi anayetilia maanani aspect zote za maisha kabla ya kuandika vitabu vyake. Interesting, humor, misamiati tele, lugha isio enda kinyume na mahadhi.

[Mrs. A A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really looking forward to reading this, Swahili isn't my favorite language but Walibora has really made me fall in love with his work. I've read Kidagaa Kimemwozea and some of his stories in Damu Nyeusi and i can't get enough of Ken Walibora, he's just one of the greatest Swahili authors.

[Barbara Njira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. Read it at least 3 times by 2011. Now I'm an adult and don't want to reread it lest I find it's not as genius as I thought lol

[Erick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply amazing

[Peter Yego · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is absolutely splendid. Proffesor did exceptional work with no doubt.

[Moses Otiende · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very captivating piece of artwork.. Ken walibora's choice of words is unmatchable when it comes to the Swahili language

[Tabitha Nakholi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, mainly because the author was able to take us on a journey with the main character from beginning to end. It's the first Swahili book I've read that wasn't a set book. It helped me brush up on my Kiswahili although I didn't know some meaning of some words. I expected the book to end differently but I guess that life. Would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a Swahili read. Ken Walibora is a great author.

[Kamwanii · Rating 5 out of 5]

itakuja siku njema,

[Emmah Kajuju · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how to download this book

[your brilliant friend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mwalimu wangu wa kwanza wa kiswahili katika shule ya msingi aliwai kuniita ofisini mwake, na swali aliloniuliza lilikuwa, Umeiba wapi hadithi hii? Insha iliyomfanya kunishuku hivyo imesahaulika, ila nina hakika ilikuwa nzuri kupindukia, kwani alininyima alama tatu tu za kunishukia wizi. Mwalimu huyo angalikuwa ameisoma riwaya moja ya bwana mmoja kwa jina Ken Walibora, iitwayo Siku Njema, angaliona usawia wa simulizi zetu. Nakumbuka kuwa, iwapo nilibadilisha mambo kadha wa kadha, nilitumia jina la mojawapo wa wahusika wa riwaya hio, aitwaye Rashid. Mwalimi wangu huyo alikuwa ndio chanzo cha ubainishi wangu kuwa, kwa kuwa vitabu duniani ni vingi mno, na waja wana masaa machache tu, licha ya wengi wao kuwa wazembe wa usomi, ni haki kuiba mambo kadhaa mtu aandikapo kisa chake, ili kuwapakulia wengine masomo aliyopata kwa kusoma kwake. Miaka mingi baadaye, mzungu mmoja aitwaye T. S. Eliot alinipa kipaumbele katima wizi aliposema kuwa wasanii bora huiga, huku wale chepe zaidi huiba. Siku Njema ikawa ndicho chanzo changu katika usomi, na urafiki wangu, na wizi pia, kati yangu na Marehemu Walibora.

Ken Walibora ni mwandishi mwenye siha na ustaarabu wa hali ya juu. Visa vyake havijihusishi na maswala bandia, na sentensi zake ni kama muziki, na kusoma hadithi ndefu aliyoiandika ni kama kusoma shairi lililojiandika. Roho kubwa anayo, na ametupa vitabu vya kudumu. Na iwapo hatadumu huyu mwandishi mahiri hivi, nane atadumu? Nawaza nyuma na iwapo nimevisoma vitabu vitatu tu alivyoviandika, nahisi kwamba nimekuwa naye hapa kwa hapa, na katika Siku Njema kuna kiwango cha utunzi kisicho na mfano, na kwafaa kuwa na mpango kuwapa wanafunzi wa msingi kitabu hiki kabla hawajaanza masomo yao rasmi, kwani ni kisa chenye upana wa Huckleberry Finn Marekani, ama kile kitabu kidogo nikipendacho sana kutoka ujerumani, kiitwacho Demian, cha bwana Hesse. Huyu ndiye mwandishi bora zaidi wa hii karne hapa nchini, katika lugha zote mbili za Kiingereza na Kiswahili.

[Soni ni Msomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall Ken Walibora does not disappoint as I would expect him to write an amazing book this book is no exception. The suspense, humour, and hope one has when reading this is truly unmistakable, would highly recommend and read again.

Kwa Jumla uandishi wa Ken Walibora haujawahi nikatisha tamaa, nilitarajia riwaya hili likubaliane na matarajio yangu. Kama ni kuwa na shaka nikisoma kitabu hiki au kucheka kwa sababu wa uandishi wake Ken Walibora ni bingwa wa uandishi na msomi katika lugha ya kiswahili, mwenye angeweza kikisoma kitabu hiki amepatiwa baraka, kama umependa kitabu hiki (kama mimi) inabidi usome vitabu vingine vya Ken Walibora. Swadakta Ken Walibora!

[Cynthia Macharia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walibora’s mastery of the Swahili language is evident. The dialogue is authentic, the narrative flows seamlessly, and the use of proverbs and idiomatic expressions enriches the text. His ability to weave a deeply personal story into the broader cultural fabric of Kenya makes the novel both intimate and universal. He highlights major social, cultural, and moral issues with humor and sarcasm.

The novel also captures the universal struggle to understand one’s identity and find a sense of belonging in the world. "Sielewi kwa nini niko hapa. Moyo umechanganyikiwa. Sijui tena maana ya maisha... Sielewi tena maanake furaha..."

[Mohammed Abdalla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Siku njema By Ken Walibora

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good read. One of the only books in Swahili I truly enjoyed.

[Convas Bundi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bure

[COllins Tsyavoga]

Ken

[Isaac Achuti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikumbushe Suleiman mapunda alimalizia wapi na masomo pale shuleni

[Nicholas]

Good bool

[Jake · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst

[Kenneth]

siku njema

[Jay Moh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best swahili narrative

[Raphael Kongowea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plz how can I start reading this book sioni hicho kitabu kikionesha nakoanzia

[Bonny Ongoma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[Abdi Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Siku njema

[Mumo Niko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the book

[Lutomia Lutomia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi akl