Ukombozi library

AO. Anti-imperialism.

AO. In this interview, founder of Vita Books and the manager of Ukombozi Library describe how the publication of Vita Books' first two booklets in 1986 (Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s ...Read more

AO. Publication Form, Format and Languages.

AO: This excerpt from the interview highlights the thinking by Ukombozi library leadership about form, format and language choice in scholarly publications in order to engage with a working class...Read more

AO. Bretton Woods neoliberal policies of 1980s/90s reduced library capacities.

AO: This quote underlines the historical context of the Bretton Woods' Structural Adjustment Policies which heavily influenced the situation of libraries and educational institutions today....Read more

AO. Content of relevance for the working class.

AO: This excerpt from the interview raises the argument that of the work that is published and distributed, there is little content of relevance to working class Kenyans....Read more

AO. Project-based approach to Progressive Librarianship

AO: This excerpt describes some of the projects (more detailed in the full interview) that give a sense of what Progressive Librarianship might look like.

A project-

...Read more

AO. Independence from corporate interests.

AO: This quote from the interview highlights the consequences of explicitly deciding not to be part of the dominant corporate scholarly publishing infrastructure despite the financial pressures...Read more

AO. Gap in relevant content in Kenyan libraries and learning institutions.

AO: This excerpt from the interview describes why Ukombozi Library was seen to be needed -- especially highlighting the perceived gap in progressive content in publically accessible libraries and...Read more

Githethwa, Njuki. 2018. “Feeling Mwalimu Nyerere Intellectual Festival.” Pambazuka News, July 6, 2018.

AO: This article reports back on the author's experience of the 2018 Mwalimu Nyerere Intellectual Festival and includes mention of the Ukombozi Library.Read more

Subscribe to Ukombozi library