Day 3 of the book festival brought together distinct voices from across the African literary space The panel discussions explored the challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities of promoting books, fostering freedom through literature, and curating Black culture. Here's a recap of the sessions:
Session 1: Challenges in Promoting Reading
Featuring Nigerian book influencer, Amyn Bawa-Allah , South African book influencer, Nokhukanya Ntsaluba and Kenyan book influencer, Muthoni Muiruri and moderated by Umaymah Abdullahi and other book influencers from different African regions, this discussion spotlighted the hurdles influencers face in encouraging a culture of reading.
One engaging topic was how influencers handle requests from publishers to promote books they personally dislike. Amyn Bawa-Allah shared that she has established a clear guideline for such situations, ensuring she remains authentic in her recommendations. Muthoni Muiruri revealed her philosophy of avoiding negative reviews entirely. "There must be something that interested me about the book," she said.
Session 2: Finding Freedom
Moderated by Karen Attiah, this panel included Najwan Darwish, Rodrigue Isamaleki, and Sofia Cheliak exploring how literature empowers individuals to reclaim and redefine freedom.
Rodrigue stressed the transformative power of knowledge gained through books:
“One of the tools of freedom is knowledge, and we get that knowledge from books.”
Sofia Cheliak built on this, emphasizing literature’s role in preserving humanity amidst life’s challenges:
“Literature is a way of keeping the humanity inside of you.”
The discussion underscored that reading is not merely an act of entertainment but a pathway to personal and collective liberation.
Session 3: Curating Black Culture
In the final discussion, moderated by Alexandra Antwi-Boasiako, panelists Velia Vidal, Wanjiru Koinange, and Kenanao Phele explored the importance of safeguarding and celebrating Black culture through literature.
Kenanao Phele issued a call to action:
“If you don’t do the work, no one is going to do it.”
The panelists agreed that African creators must take charge of representing Black culture authentically and intentionally. This means producing literature that honors the past, reflects the present, and inspires the future of black culture.
Which panel resonated with you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!