The Impact of Book Festivals in Kenya
Almost every country has a book culture, an annual event celebrating book-reading culture. Book Festivals in Kenya are not new, especially with the inaugural Moto Books and Arts Festival in April 2022.
This yearly event brings together global book lovers, arts and culture fans through physical and virtual platforms.
One hard-to-ignore aspect is the impact of book festivals in Kenya, especially in enhancing literacy and improving reading culture. Let us explore a bit on this immense impact
Glamour and appeal to reading
Book Festivals in Kenya are adding more glamour and appeal to reading. With the introduction of Moto Books and Arts Festival, more people get to know and feel the impact of the literary works of various authors. More so, it is a cultural phenomenon bringing together famous publishers, authors of every feather flock, publicists, and other players within the creative industry.
Not only do people get to meet authors and other important players, but also they get to engage during masterclass sessions, book reading, and other activities that spark interest in reading and writing.
A focus on African Authors
With the introduction of book festivals in Kenya, people can focus on the works of African authors. Kenya and Africa have literature written in English by local or diaspora authors. These festivals seek to make known the works of many people, with annual events like Moto Books and Arts Festival.
A platform for debates
Another impact that cannot be ignored thanks to the book festivals in Kenya is a platform for debates in society. Youth get to engage authors and publishers as they seek their space in the industry and the world. It is a chance for them to speak about their dreams and the future of Africa.
The debating platforms created by book festivals in Kenya are a chance to expose various problems, reflect on possible solutions, and have a different way of doing things.
Encouraging more local authors
The introduction of the MOTO Festival as one of the book Festivals in Kenya has created such a space and helped reach more local authors. The idea is to push for pleasure reading among the youth, distribute more books to various libraries, and empower more local authors to join the world stage. MOTO Festival will be instrumental in partnering with literature industry leaders and players to enhance the book-reading culture in Kenya.