Nairobi’s new chapter: these ladies are restoring and reclaiming Kenya’s dilapidated, colonial-era libraries

The identify of the library additionally recollects its historical past. It was commissioned by Lady Lucy Macmillan and devoted as a memorial to her husband, British American settler Sir William Northrup Macmillan. With lions guarding the entrance entrance (positioned there in reference to Macmillan’s fascination with lions), the books throughout the library additionally function charming reminders of the time.

“When you look at the collection, it reflects a certain kind of ideology — a very problematic one,” Wacchuka stated.

Updating the Colonial Collection

In 2018, Book Bunk established a partnership with the native authorities of Nairobi that permits the staff to steer restoration efforts within the metropolis’s libraries. Book Bunk, which depends on donors and partnerships to fund its initiatives, has a devoted workers of paid and volunteer staff.

Wachuka and Koenang, together with 30 interns, compiled a catalog of 137,705 books—primarily obtained from British colonists—over a interval of 9 months on the Macmillan Memorial Library. They at the moment are sifting by the fabric to resolve which one will stay.

“The texts here do not reflect who we are, but are an important part of understanding how we have been viewed throughout history,” Wacchuka stated.

The Macmillan Library is the Book Bunk’s third library restoration venture. The staff has already restored the Eastland Library and the extra central Kaloleni Library in East Nairobi. They at the moment are working to digitize books and archival materials corresponding to magazines that can make entry to historical past a click on away.

While sorting by the cabinets, he observed a serious distinction in all three libraries: the dearth of an African assortment.

“I’m 100% sure that if we had books on shelves that reflected people’s needs, we would see them flying off the shelves,” Koinange stated.

a welcoming place to assemble

According to Koinange, surrounding communities use libraries as workspaces, with about 300 individuals accessing them day by day. Before the Book Bunk restored them, there have been no working water or workable bogs within the Kaloney and Eastlands, and the Macmillans had a barely-functioning electrical system, forcing the library to shut when the solar went down. .

Even earlier than revamping libraries, Book Bunk spent months surveying native communities to search out out which companies could be most helpful. People requested Wi-Fi, up to date bogs, prolonged opening hours, neighborhood areas and enjoyable actions.

The Book Bunk is at the moment engaged on creating out of doors area in libraries and updating infrastructure, from putting in Wi-Fi to cleansing up the asbestos within the partitions. And whereas there’s nonetheless a sense that they’re restoring a spot that was by no means supposed for them, Koenange believes in standing as much as historical past and leaving one thing higher for posterity. is vital.

“I think we as Kenyans are too quick to do this when things are painful. It’s not useful, because if you erase it, you forget it, and it happens again and again.” Happens,” she said. “(Instead), you stare it within the face and turn out to be like, ‘We’re going to make you stunning once more.’ You are going to discover a strategy to not solely restore the constructing, however what the constructing means to the Kenyan individuals, (and) that’s way more sustainable.”