The Kenya Literature Bureau was initially established by the "East Africa governments (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda)"[1] in 1947 as the East African Literature Bureau as an "offshoot" of the missionary-owned Ndia Kuu Press in order to publish books for the general public in Kiswahili, East African vernacular languages and English.[2][3] The Bureau's first director was Charles Granston Richards, who held that post for fifteen years.[4][5]
The regional status continued after independence with the establishment of the East African Community (EAC). In the early 1970s the Bureau published many pioneering anthologies of English-language poetry from East Africa:
It is significant of East African writers' indifference to political boundaries that such anthologies were all compiled, without a single exception, on an inter-territorial basis, with Kenya and Uganda supplying the greater part of the material. They [were] often multiracial as well, incorporating contributions by European and Asian writers.[6]
However, in 1977, the EAC collapsed and the reins of the bureau were transferred to the Kenyan Ministry of Education thereby making it a department under that ministry. In 1980, the KLB Act was passed by the Kenyan Parliament making it a state corporation—a status it holds to this day.[3]
^Henry Chakava, "Private enterprise publishing in Kenya: A long struggle for emancipation", in: The Cottage by the Highway and Other Essays on Publishing: 25 Years of Logos, Brill, 2015, p. 32. Retrieved 10 May 2022
^Stanley Gazemba, African Publishing Minefields and the Woes of the African Writer, theelephant.info. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
^ ab"The Kenya Literature Bureau Bill, 13th May 1980". Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard). Vol. LII. Republic of Kenya. 1980. pp. 811–14. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
^Keith Smith and Charles Richards, "Interview", The African Book Publishing Record, print: Volume 2 Issue 3, Walter de Gruyter, 1976; online: De Gruyter Saur, November 12, 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
^Papers of Charles Granston Richards, archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
^Albert S. Gérard (1986). European-language Writing in Sub-Saharan Africa. John Benjamins Publishing. p. 913. ISBN978-963-05-3834-3. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
^Early Travellers in East Africa (East African Literature Bureau; Kenya Literature Bureau) - Book Series List, publishinghistory.com. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
Further reading
Shiraz Durrani, Never Be Silent: Publishing and Imperialism 1884-1963, Nairobi: Vita Books, 2006.
External links
Kenya Literature Bureau - official website
This Kenya related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
kenya, literature, bureau, publishing, house, state, corporation, kenya, founded, 1947, located, south, popo, road, nairobi, formerlyeast, african, literature, bureautypestate, owned, corporationindustrypublishing, housefounded1947, years, 1947, founderbritish. The Kenya Literature Bureau KLB is a publishing house and state corporation in Kenya founded in 1947 It is located in South C off Popo Road in Nairobi Kenya Literature BureauFormerlyEast African Literature BureauTypeState owned corporationIndustryPublishing houseFounded1947 76 years ago 1947 FounderBritish High CommissionHeadquartersNairobi KenyaWebsitekenyaliteraturebureau wbr com Contents 1 History 2 Book series 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory EditThe Kenya Literature Bureau was initially established by the East Africa governments Kenya Tanzania and Uganda 1 in 1947 as the East African Literature Bureau as an offshoot of the missionary owned Ndia Kuu Press in order to publish books for the general public in Kiswahili East African vernacular languages and English 2 3 The Bureau s first director was Charles Granston Richards who held that post for fifteen years 4 5 The regional status continued after independence with the establishment of the East African Community EAC In the early 1970s the Bureau published many pioneering anthologies of English language poetry from East Africa It is significant of East African writers indifference to political boundaries that such anthologies were all compiled without a single exception on an inter territorial basis with Kenya and Uganda supplying the greater part of the material They were often multiracial as well incorporating contributions by European and Asian writers 6 However in 1977 the EAC collapsed and the reins of the bureau were transferred to the Kenyan Ministry of Education thereby making it a department under that ministry In 1980 the KLB Act was passed by the Kenyan Parliament making it a state corporation a status it holds to this day 3 Book series EditEarly Travellers in East Africa 7 References Edit Henry Chakava Private enterprise publishing in Kenya A long struggle for emancipation in The Cottage by the Highway and Other Essays on Publishing 25 Years of Logos Brill 2015 p 32 Retrieved 10 May 2022 Stanley Gazemba African Publishing Minefields and the Woes of the African Writer theelephant info Retrieved 10 May 2022 a b The Kenya Literature Bureau Bill 13th May 1980 Kenya National Assembly Official Record Hansard Vol LII Republic of Kenya 1980 pp 811 14 Retrieved 18 November 2012 Keith Smith and Charles Richards Interview The African Book Publishing Record print Volume 2 Issue 3 Walter de Gruyter 1976 online De Gruyter Saur November 12 2009 Retrieved 10 May 2010 Papers of Charles Granston Richards archiveshub jisc ac uk Retrieved 28 March 2020 Albert S Gerard 1986 European language Writing in Sub Saharan Africa John Benjamins Publishing p 913 ISBN 978 963 05 3834 3 Retrieved 18 November 2012 Early Travellers in East Africa East African Literature Bureau Kenya Literature Bureau Book Series List publishinghistory com Retrieved 28 March 2020 Further reading EditShiraz Durrani Never Be Silent Publishing and Imperialism 1884 1963 Nairobi Vita Books 2006 External links EditKenya Literature Bureau official website This Kenya related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kenya Literature Bureau amp oldid 1109972425, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
