 Cover for the October 2010 issue | |
| Frequency | Sporadic |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| Company | Kwani Trust |
| Country | Kenya |
| Based in | Nairobi |
| Language | English |
| Website | www |
Kwani? (derived from the Sheng slang so what?) was a prominent African literary magazine headquartered in Kenya. [1] [2] It has been hailed as "undoubtedly the most influential journal to have emerged from sub-Saharan Africa". [3] [4]
Contents
The magazine originated from discussions among a group of writers based in Nairobi during the early 2000s. [5] Its inception was led by Binyavanga Wainaina, who initiated the project after winning the 2002 Caine Prize for African Writing. [6] [7] The inaugural printed edition was released in 2003. [8]
Kwani? was produced by the Kwani Trust, an organization dedicated to fostering Kenya's and Africa's intellectual, creative, and imaginative resources through strategic literary initiatives. [9] The organization receives substantial funding from the Ford Foundation. [10]
During its run, the magazine evolved into a significant platform for African continent literature and has propelled the careers of various writers, including Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, who won the 2003 Caine Prize; [11] Uwem Akpan, acclaimed author of the bestselling short-story collection Say You're One of Them, [12] and Billy Kahora, now the magazine's managing editor. [7] Each edition of the journal comprises over 500 pages of new journalism, fiction, experimental writing, poetry, cartoons, photographs, ideas, literary travel writing, and creative non-fiction. [13]
Each volume of Kwani? revolved around a central theme. For instance, the seventh issue (2012/3), titled "Majuu" (a Sheng word meaning "overseas"), was "a 570-page testament to the journal's diasporic roots". [14]
After the Ford changed its funding models in East Africa and ended support programs for arts and the media in 2014/15, "Kawani?" ceased publication. [15]
