This week, our Editors-at-Large take us into the inner workings of the literary scenes in Palestine and Kenya. From the debut of Gaza Publications, a publication dedicated to the promotion and protection of Palestinian stories, to the rich and discursive literary salons of Nairobi, read on to learn more.
Carol Khoury, Editor-at-Large for Palestine and the Palestinians, reporting from Palestine
A new publishing house, Gaza Publications (manshurat gazza), has been launched by Palestinian writer and editor Husam Maarouf, aiming to safeguard Palestinian narratives threatened by erasure amid ongoing conflict. Maarouf, speaking from Gaza, emphasized that the project was born out of “the fear of obliteration and the erasures that threaten the Palestinian story,” particularly the untold testimonies of those who lived through the 1948 Nakba and subsequent wars.
The Gaza Publications team includes Maarouf as founder and director, visual artist Lamis Al Sharif as consultant and coordinator, and Yemeni designer Nina Amer. Despite severe challenges—including war, frequent internet outages, and communication barriers—the team remains committed to amplifying Palestinian voices, especially those shaped by the harsh realities of Gaza.
The house’s inaugural release is The Man Who Looked Back, a collection of short stories by Amer Almassri, a young Palestinian writer now based in Turkey. Maarouf describes Almassri’s work as “a comprehensive panorama of the situation in Gaza over the past two decades,” delving deeply into the human experience and the psychological landscape shaped by conflict. Stories such as “A Birthday Underground” offer intimate glimpses into daily life under siege, resonating with readers both inside and outside Gaza. The book “is not just a literary collection—it is an emotional testimony to the unseen tragedies of Gaza.”
Currently, the book is printed in Poland and distributed globally from Berlin via the Handal website and Khan Aljanub bookshop, though not yet available within Gaza itself due to the ongoing war. Plans are underway to publish e-books and, eventually, to print locally in Gaza once conditions allow.
Maarouf encourages global readers to support the initiative by purchasing books, noting that the project is self-funded and relies on sales and donations to continue publishing Palestinian literature and testimonies. “Purchasing a copy helps us move to the next step and continue publishing Palestinian literature about the genocide,” he said.
To stay tuned or to support Gaza Publications, follow their Facebook page.
Wambua Muindi, Editor-at-Large, reporting from Kenya
Nairobi’s Sundays come alive at Nuria Bookstore book readings. Each Sunday, NuriaBooks opens its doors to authors and readers for discussions, readings, and signings—an initiative that seeks to change the Kenyan reading culture one book at a time. On Sunday, May 18, the reading featured Robert Mwangi’s Whisper in the Jungle and Mugeni Ojiambo’s Pain and the Secrets, both self-published books. Hosted by KenyanReadathon leader Lexa Lubanga, the event included excerpts from the two books and giveaways, and pulsed with the energy of the readings and discussions, with the importance of reading taking centre stage. These readings are indicative of the way bookshops in Nairobi are defining Kenya’s literary culture.
Similarly, on May 30, at Somanami Ngara, Dennis Mugaa will give insight into his short story collection Half Portraits Under Water, his debut which ruminates on loss, love, hope and history. The event is part of the ‘In Conversation’ series curated by Somanami, an award winning Pan-African bookstore, which features authors from the continent discussing their books, writing, and culture. After the conversation, Dennis Mugaa will be signing copies of Half Portraits Under Water—book lovers of Nairobi, mark your calendar!
*****
- Weekly Dispatches From the Frontlines of World Literature (May 9, 2025)
- Weekly Dispatches From the Frontlines of World Literature (May 9, 2025)
- Weekly Dispatches From the Frontlines of World Literature (May 2, 2025)