Why Kenyan publishers are ignoring art books

Kenyan publishers are ignoring art books because they don’t rake in enough profits, a report conducted by the British Council has revealed.

The report says the Kenyan publishing industry has its eye on school textbooks and NGO-sponsored publications but would not touch art-related publications with a barge pole.

“Local publishers have to make a profit and these narrow fields hold little interest for them. The best intellectual input from Kenya therefore remains unpublished and even the most notable Kenyan artists have no publications to show,” says the study.

Though there are not as many books from many veteran artists such as Sane Wadu and Brush Wanyu, there are a few that have helped fill the gap. Kenyan-based Ugandan painter Jak Katarikawe (pictured right) has had his works used as illustrations in the 1994’s poetry book The Dream Does not Die written by Anna Yardeni.

Artist Elimo Njau has a book The Antelope Rises: Elimo Njau, East African Artist (The Africa sketches series) documented by Louise Crane. Cartoonist Godfrey Mwampembwa popularly known as Gado has three books Abunuwasi, Democrazy, and The End of an Error.

Veteran arts writer Margaretta wa Gacheru launched her book Creating Contemporary Kenyan Art: Art Networks in Urban Kenya last year, while artist Miriam Syowia Kyambi released a self-titled book on her installation works last year.

Consistent art publishing has been left to art institutions and individuals with interest in arts and not big-name publishers. The Kenya Arts Diary that documents artists and their work is published by Margaretta wa Gacheru. Through its Contact Zones book series, Goethe-Institut has published a collection of short plays by six writers Six and the City, Miriam Syowia Kyambi’s book and Mwangalio Tofauti- Nine Photographers from Kenya, a book on photography.

Contemporary Art in Kenya was jointly published by Goethe-Institut and Alliance Francaise while the former took part in the publication of Picking up the Pieces: Cartoons on the Post-Election Violence in Kenya 2007/2008. Fresh Paint- Literary Vignettes by Kenyan Women comprises short stories and poems from Amka Forum, a monthly literary event.

The study found out that limited educational opportunities for visual artists, scarce resources, little cultural debate and criticism, limited museum collections and few exhibition spaces due to poor arts infrastructure and limited arts criticism are the challenges facing the artists. Poor communication and cohesion were also cited as challenges.

The report was conducted in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia looking into three aspects: visual arts, music and creative economy.

In the wake of this report, the British Council last Friday launched a three-year arts programme in a bid to support artists and art institutions in Kenya as well as foster relationship between the two countries.

“I am sure it will provide important opportunities to nurture Kenya’s rich, diverse and vibrant creative talents. UK and Kenya will benefit immensely from this cultural exchange,” said Dr Hassan Wario, Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and the Arts.