Soma Nami Books

Soma Nami, a Swahili phrase which translates to “Read with Me”, began in 2017 as a book review blog. It later grew into a book club that. In August 2021, the vision expanded into a physical space with the launch of Soma Nami Books, the first Afrocentric Book Hub in Nairobi, Kenya, located at The Greenhouse Mall on Ngong Road.

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The Book Hub encompasses a bookstore designed as a cozy sitting and social space to encourage discovery, connections, and conversations around books. We primarily focus on works by Africans from the continent, the diaspora, and women. The store was born out of a need to address the challenge of book accessibility on the continent. Since launching, our catalogue has grown significantly. Alongside the physical stores, our online platform serves readers across Kenya and has expanded to reach Tanzania and Uganda.

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In June 2024, we opened a second branch in Ngara, Nairobi, extending our vision of making African literature more accessible and creating vibrant community spaces for readers across the city.

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Our work at Soma Nami Books extends beyond selling books; we serve as an essential community institution—providing a space for learning, community building, knowledge exchange, and consciousness-raising.

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Soma Nami Books continues to grow tremendously and is transforming the way Kenyans engage with and consume literature.

 

In December 2021, we were honored as Literary Platform of the Year at the Brittle Paper Books Awards for pushing the boundaries of what it means to create space for African literature.