Nexus/Busara and the Rise of Modern Kenyan Literature
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Date
2021
Authors
Mwangi, Macharia
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Abstract
This paper examines the role of Nexus/Busara as one of the foundational literary magazines in Kenya. Founded in the late 1960s by
literature students at the University College, Nairobi, the journal
was immersed in the politics of literary and cultural production in
the East African region of the time. It was one of the major reviews
that gave upcoming young writers space to hone their skills in
creative writing and literary criticism. Using a historical approach,
this paper places the magazine in the context of the postcolonial
Kenyan landscape in the period immediately after independence.
Through a close-reading of specific texts in the journal, the paper
also explores the influences of pioneer East African writers and
underscores the pivotal role that the University played in laying
the foundations of modern Kenyan literature. The study shows that
literary magazines are brooding nests for creative writers and literary critics, nurture literary cultures, and build bridges between
generations of writers and between traditions.
Description
A Research Article in the Social Dynamics A journal of African studies
Keywords
Small magazines, Postcolonial, Pioneer Kenyan literature
Citation
Mwangi, M. (2021). Nexus/Busara and the rise of modern Kenyan literature. Social Dynamics, 47(2), 228-242.