In 2007, a recently formed publishing company, Storymoja Publishers, took on a task: popularizing reading among Kenyans. Based on a vision to ensure a book in every hand, and a team dedicated to enhancing literacy levels, the process toward fulfilling the task began.
The process began with research. The team looked into the demands and hobbies of Kenyans. One thing was clear – Kenyans enjoyed their days off, and more importantly, enjoyed time with family, friends. Another thing that stood out about these days off was nyama choma on those days. So how then, could they incorporate these pleasures into their task? The answer became The Storymoja Nyama Choma Storytelling Festival. On 2nd December 2008, the festival held its first edition, inviting lovers of literature and beckoning them to bring along their friends and family because, above art and literature, there would be… nyama choma!
The thing about success is that it invites the need to be better. And that’s what happened with the SM team. They decided to go bigger, and after sourcing for possible partners – locally and internationally, the settled on a partnership with a UK based literature and arts festival – The Hay Festival, to create the second edition of The Storymoja Nyama Choma Festival. But, with the new partnership came the need to revise the festival name. In 2009 the festival became The Storymoja Hay Festival became one of The Hay Festival’s several global events. The two organizations together produced a three-day event with approximately 60 workshops across literature and arts. It invited various creatives, not just from Kenya but from as far as west and south Africa. Sadly, in 2013, following the Westgate Mall terror attack that took the life of key guest Professor Kofi Awoonor, the festival was disrupted.
The following year, the core team was determined to continue with the theme, and returned to its initial independent event. This time, the festival took on the name The Storymoja Festival. In 2016, in memory of Prof. Awoonor, the festival was held in Accra. And, in 2017, to celebrate ten years of existence, the SM Festival run for six days, and focused on the celebration of ideas, stories and writing. The theme was based on three pillars: creativity, exposure and collaboration.
This has indeed been a journey for the festival and the attendees, as well as lovers of arts and literature. Although the festival didn’t take place last year, there are plans to have a more vibrant edition next year, and we can’t wait to see what the Storymoja team has in store for us
