«UOne of the most glaring flaws in Kenyan nation-building is not the absence of memory, but the deliberate institutionalization of amnesia.” Angela Wachuka explains with these words what she saw with her own eyes when, together with Shiro Koinange, she threw herself into thetitanic undertaking of building a library in Nairobi, Kenya. Or, rather, to transform what until 1958 was a colonial-era institution for whites, crystallized on the glories of the British Empire, in a truly public space. The film How to build a Library tells this exciting and enlightening story, which will be presented as an Italian premiere at the WeWorld Festival on Sunday 17 May. It was introduced by the young Kenyan activist Lydia Kingeru.
How to build a library: the film about the titanic undertaking of two women in Kenya
The film, awarded at Sundance Film Festival, follows Angela and Shiro in their project: while the two women digitize millions of texts and put entrenched colonial knowledge systems are questionedvarious tensions emerge, both internal to the working group and external. And the persistent connections between colonial history and contemporary power appear evident.
Despite political instability and bureaucratic uncertainty, Shiro and Wachuka succeed: they manage to transform the once exclusive library into a cultural center for everyone. Theirs is a won battle, which tells of the broader, and still ongoing, struggle which aims to redefine Kenya’s past and imagine a sovereign future.
At the WeWorld Festival with Lydia Kingeru
In addition to presenting the film, Lydia Kingeru, which together with WeWorld participated in COP30, will bring to Milan the reality of those who experience the effects of climate change on the front line. Not an abstract idea in Kenya, but a concrete force that amplifies already existing economic, social and gender inequalities.
Of this, and of International Manifesto on climate justice, youth participation, gender equality and digital activismwritten by 100 young people from Austria, Tanzania, Italy, Kenya and Uganda, Kingeru will speak during the Activist Chat on Saturday 16 May. A moment of plural discussion, to connect local and international perspectives, and explore the profound link between female leadership, youth protagonism and climate justice.
From show cooking to climate resilience
On the topic, we will also be there on Saturday 17 May (at 5pm). an atypical event, between show cooking and informative talk: starting from the food and recipes prepared by the chef Ophelia Kumbespecialized in vegetarian cuisine, we will talk about climate resiliencefood security and women’s empowerment.
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