Nairobi will host its first edition of the Asian Literary Festival (ALF) in April 2026.
The international literary event, slated for debut in Africa, will feature authors from Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Ghana.
Novelist and playwright Alexander Nderitu has been announced as the director for the Nairobi chapter, with other chapters running in Abu Dhabi, Brussels, Gampaha, Montreal, Valencia, Odisha, and Dubai.
He aims to use the festival as an international platform for African writers and to raise Nairobi’s literary prestige.
“This appointment came with gratitude, apprehension, and a bit of surprise. I have been thinking of an event that includes awards in Nyeri, where literary activities aren’t much,” he expressed.
The Nairobi edition will showcase 100 writers, with 70 coming from Africa.
There will be book launches, panel discussions on Swahili telenovelas, K-pop and K-drama, poetry and music performances, exhibitions, art installations, children’s activities, and the announcement of the Alexander Nderitu World Literature Prize during the three-day festival.
The Nairobi ALF comes at a time when the literary scene is picking up.
Post–COVID–19, Alexander notes that Nairobi is returning to its glory days of book fairs, festivals, and book clubs.
During his tenure, Alexander intends to use the festival to help Nairobi achieve UNESCO’s City of Literature status.
UNESCO’s City of Literature initiative is part of the Creative Cities Network, launched in 2004 to promote social, economic, and cultural development through literary activities. Currently, Buffalo City and Durban, both in South Africa, are the only two African cities that hold the title.
“One of the criteria for UNESCO recognition is hosting literary events. I also hope that the ALF will bring back excitement into the literary space and become the biggest festival in the country,” he said.
The festival will also address challenges writers face in reaching global audiences by increasing visibility and promoting networking with artists. It will further support cross-continental exchange of ideas and experiences between Africa and Asia.
“I hope the Nairobi edition will see new works being launched and that African authors will be invited to other global festivals. This could lay the basis for future editions and more cultural collaboration,” he said.