Wananchi Opinion: OMG, FOMO, LOL, BRB is okay, but also teach kids to write well

There is a general feeling – especially among the young folks – that too many words is a waste of ink and time.

Some parents ( I am one of them) have come across texting abbreviations like DIY (Do it Yourself). LOL (Laughing Out Loud). Or BRB (Be Right back) in their child’s writings.

Some kids even inject them into their daily communication – especially when they want to lock dad or mum out of their ‘little world’ – and it works perfectly well.

If you don't belong to a certain age group – such ‘writings’ or 'speech' is likely to leave you scratching your head.

Some of these parents grew up chewing literary masterpieces by the likes of Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Meja Mwangi, Grace Ogot, among other post-independence writers.

And with the sun setting on most of Kenya’s revered writers of old, one can only wonder if we are still a literary powerhouse.

Truth is that many young Kenyan writers have, on their own efforts, perfected their craft and are getting deserved recognition internationally. 

Taban Lo Liyong, the controversial Sudanese writer, once declared that East Africa was a literary desert – well not anymore.

Many of our young writers are being recognised because of their literary works even today; this year, for instance, many have been lined up for recognition by the prestigious Macondo Literary Festival (MLF).

Many of them will share the high table with internationally recognised writers – a very proud moment for any Kenya. 

Our young men and women will get a chance to feature in book discussions, literary debates, poetry recitals and other artistic performances.

Did you know that in April 2024, Condé Nast Traveller Magazine listed MLF among the nine Best Literary Festivals in the World? Now you do – which makes this recognition a big thing for our young Kenyan writers.

This book society has previously hosted 59 authors and artists from 20 countries, including 2021 Nobel Prize winner Abdulrazak Gurnah. Yes.

Truth is that Kenya is still rich with literary minds; young men and women who still love the ink.

One cannot mention them in one hand alone; the likes of Alexis Teyie, Scholastica Moraa, Scholar Akinyi, Buke Abduba, and Kiprop Kimutai – who will be at the festival. 

Performance poets like Mufasa, Nyash, Slim Shaka and Stella Kivuti.

Visual storytellers Yvonne Muinde and Naddya Adhiambo Oluoch-Olunya, dance choreographer Adam Chienjo. 

Researchers and scholars Mshai Mwangola, Godwin Siundu and Dino Martins.

Guest scholars Bhakti Shringarpure (US) and Zulfikar Hirji (Canada) will feature in the proceedings.

The international writers invited to MLF include Nigerian Chigozie Obioma, who is currently riding high with his book, The Road to the Country (2024), which examines brotherhood, spirituality and the Nigerian-Biafran War.

Others include Kenyan-born Canadian author MG Vassanji, Janika Oza, also from Canada and Hamza Koudri from Algeria. Others are South African author Shubnum Khan, Shubhangi Swarup, from India, Johary Ravaloson (Madagascar), Jeferson Tenório (Brazil); and João Melo from Angola. 

The Kenyan writers, Scholastica Moraa, Scholar Akinyi, Buke Abduba, Alexis Teyie, and Kiprop Kimutai, will specifically feature in ‘Kenya Writes’, a session that will highlight the vibrant literary scene unravelling in Kenya today. 

The Kenya Writes panel will delve into the richness of African literature today, exploring the stories that define us and the voices that bring our diverse cultures to life.

Scholastica Moraa has a passion for poetry and stories. She expertly weaves her poems to present the full mix of emotions associated with love. Her poetry collection, Beautiful Mess, has been translated into Italian. It has also been converted into audio format by eKitabu. Moraa, who studied actuarial science at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University, won the 2022 Kendeka Prize for African Literature with her short story Chained. Her work has been featured in reputable magazines such as the Konch Online Magazine and Imbiza. She also writes for children. 

Buke Abduba is a Kenyan writer and pharmacist who was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize in 2023. Her work has been featured in publications like Adda Stories, Lolwe, and an East African short story anthology Let Us Conspire and Other Stories.

She is currently working on a manuscript with a vision to authentically reflect the lives and experiences of people in her community.

Alexis Teyie is an artist and researcher. Previous books include a poetry chapbook, Clay Plates: Broken Records of Kiswahili Proverbs, and a children's book, Shortcut.

Teyie was one of the co-founders of Enkare Review and currently works with Down River Road (DRR). They also provide advisory for non-profits and start-ups.

Kiprop Kimutai is a rising Kenyan writer who won the 2023 Graywolf African Fiction Prize for his manuscript The Freedom of Birds, set to be published by Graywolf Press in 2026.

His fiction has appeared in No Tokens, The Johannesburg Review of Books, Kwani?, Evergreen Review, and Jalada Africa.

A 2023 Miles Morland scholar and a finalist for the 2018 Gerald Kraak Award, Kimutai’s work is known for its cultural depth and emotional resonance, making him a notable voice in contemporary African fiction.

Scholar Akinyi is an award-winning writer. In her debut book, Hop, Skip, and Jump, she brings to light the experiences of children caught up in Kenya’s 2008 post-election violence, emphasizing the importance of including children in discussions that shape a country's history.

Akinyi's work has earned her the YouthHubAfrica Flash Fiction Award, and she was shortlisted for the inaugural African Writers Awards in Flash Fiction. 

See, Kenya is doing just fine in the literary world, but let’s invite more of our children onto the literary table.