Eastern African Literary and Publishing Networks in the 1960s and 1970s

The Department of Literature at the University of Nairobi successfully hosted the conference Eastern African Literary and Publishing Networks in the 1960s and 1970s on 10th and 11th August 2026 at the Main Campus. The event brought together distinguished scholars, researchers, and literary critics for two days of rich intellectual exchange on a defining period in East Africa’s literary and publishing history.

Delivering compelling keynote addresses, Dr. Anna Adima, Professor James Ogude, and Dr. Asha Rogers illuminated the nuances of postcolonial imaginations, local and external patronages, and transnational educational changes. Parallel panels offered critical evaluations of pioneering female writers, Kiswahili publishing circuits, university literary magazines, and independent presses like Comb Books. A major highlight was the formal launch of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o in Context (Cambridge University Press, 2026), edited by Professor James Ogude, featuring reflections by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor.

The presentations demonstrated both the depth and diversity of current scholarship in African literary studies, while also recovering important archives, authors, and histories of collaboration. Ultimately, the conference was a notable scholarly achievement, reaffirming the University of Nairobi’s standing as a leading centre for literary research and critical inquiry on the continent.