Have you ever been infected by someone’s personality? Wait until you hear or read about Wakini Kuria. Everyone who talks about her encodes her personality into their words and it is impossible to decode it without a dose of the same personality as well. We know of charm and her charm was her infectious personality. Her personality carried her vision infused passion- to make an unprecedented change in African literature.
Wakini had a giving heart which enabled her to cultivate her passion for reading and writing in different literary platforms she served on, including Writers Guild Kenya. Her vision birthed fully in Writers Space Africa. Because of Wakini, Writers Space Africa boasts of subgroups and members all over Africa. She made Writers Space Africa home, not only for herself but, for every writer of African descent. Writers Space Africa now prides herself in this very same principle, giving! Giving a home/space for writers to express themselves, nurture their craft, interact with other writers from across Africa and fostering a discourse on African literature.
Having served in various roles in Writers Space Africa, we cannot overlook her amazing charismatic vigour which she exhibited in her leadership role as the Chief Editor of the WSA-Magazine in 2018. She stood as a pillar of support in the success of the 2018 African Writers Conference held in Nigeria and the 2019 African Writers Conference hosted by Kenya. The 2019 Conference was held shortly following her untimely demise. Yes, her immortal vision is a vessel that is sailing Writers Space Africa’s dream to a mile of success.
Listening to Wakini’s voice in messages from every writer that met her, both physically and virtually, one can’t help but feel her personality embrace their heart. She truly ‘wrote hope in many a soul’. She touched the lives of people she never met, lifted others up even when she was down and now, she is forever lifted up!
With every milestone Writers Space Africa achieves, we remember Wakini. Faced with insurmountable trials, still, we remember her smile. ‘Never let life beat you into submission’ so, we soldier on, engaging a global narrative on the future of the African writer, and the untapped potentialities of African literature with its diverse culture. Wakini believed in nurturing reading and writing from the grassroots level and in honour of her, African Writers Conference sponsors the ‘Wakini Kuria Children’s Literature Prize’ every year. ‘Writing makes writers immortal’ so, Wakini lives on!
Click to enter for the Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature
