Ukombozi library

AO. "Rooted within working class struggles in Kenya."

AO: This excerpt from the interview highlights the importance to the leadership of Ukombozi library of rooting it within the working class struggles in Kenya and the importance of...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

Durrani, Shiraz. 2006. Never Be Silent: Publishing & Imperialism in Kenya, 1884 - 1963. 1. ed. London: Vita Books.

From book jacket: “We will never be silent until we get land to cultivate and freedom in this country of ours” …so sang Mau Mau activists. The struggle for independence in Kenya was waged at many levels. Never be Silent explores how this struggle was reflected in the...Read more

AO. Situating Ukombozi library

AO: This excerpt from Githethwa's post describes Ukombozi library.

We present books to JULAWATA from Ukombozi Library in Nairobi. Ukombozi means liberation in Kiswahili. The

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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

Vita Books: Publishing against Imperialism: Interview with Shiraz Durrani and Kimani Waweru

AO: This interview with Shiraz Durrani and Kimani Waweru by Stephanie Kitchen was conducted in 2017 and published in Read African Books. Waweru manages the Ukombozi Library on a day-to-day basis and Durrani is the founder of Vita Books, one of the collaborating founders of the library.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. 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

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

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

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