Episodes - Book Bunk

@TheBookBunk

[fts_facebook type=page id=1333753283349653 access_token=EAAP9hArvboQBAHqCwzpSBLq24dwB1URVcZA8O1k1G1RgZAvsGyeBPq29WSRZBpJB0kz0Dipas3wbyR1SJDEZAQK3ZAaKdALthDjOYdJly4KEZCZCv9C8ZA82nLP0BqyoZCQhuZA2nsJkZBSFBcoTKKzHlf3SBcgTYKHn8TRmAtyUrZAyh4dIKgOXEu0nB2UlaTNYZAY0ZD posts=6 description=yes posts_displayed=page_only]

NBO LITFEST Close

A Palace For The People
Season One
- What to Expect
- Episodes
Season Two
- What to Expect
- Episodes

A Palace For The People
Season One
- What to Expect
- Episodes
Season Two
- What to Expect
- Episodes

Episode 1: A Palace For The People

Released on 12th December, 2020

Facebook-f Twitter Icon-email

EPISODE 1 LEARNING RESOURSES

Released on December 16, 2020 By Book Bunk

A Palace for The People

In this episode, we explore the history of McMillan Memorial Library, including some background on Lucy and Northrup McMillan, who it’s named after. Wanjiru and Wachuka walk us through the library as they share the story of Book Bunk’s inception of their dreams for this library.

A collection of articles on Nairobi’s colonial history, the McMillan Memorial Library, Northrup McMillan and much more by one of our favourite chroniclers at Owaahh (Link thumbnails of articles here directing to their site)
A small collection of the lions of Nairobi: City Hall, GPO Roundabout, McMillan Memorial Library entrance, Africanah Room, Main Floor
Biography of Sir William Northrup McMillan here
Want to know how Juja town got its name? Click here to find out!
Read about when Theodore Roosevelt and his son, Kermit visited McMillan and stole lions while in the city. A riveting article by Owaahh here.
The McMillan Memorial Library Act, here
The McMillan Castle in Ol Donyo Sabuk/Kilimambogo/Kyanzavi mountain. It is now a museum domiciled under the National Museums of Kenya and managed by the Muka Mukuu Cooperative. Here
Mugambo – A film adapted from the play, Red Dust and partly filmed in Kenya. Trailer here.
Kenya @ 50: Trends, Identities and the Politics of Belonging, by Joyce Nyairo. A book about the intersection of culture, identity and politics in Kenya in the past 50 years. Can be purchased from here
Northrup McMillan’s burial site on the slopes of Ol Donyo Sabuk. Image here
Palaces for The People, by Eric Klinenberg. The inspiration for our podcast’s name and a sociological treatise on how to build more equal and united society through social infrastructure. Can be purchased here
Astoria Waldorf NYC advert from August 1906
Northrup McMillan’s Chiromo House. Before he owned it, it belonged to Ewart Grogan, who sold it to him. Today it is one of the offices for the Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies at the University of Nairobi (image)
Khoja Mosque. Then and Now.
ES Atieno: This episode is dedicated to ES Atieno Odhiambo (1945 – 25 February 2009), a Kenyan academic widely known for his contributions to the understanding of dangers inherent in politics of knowledge and sociology of power. Dr Odhiambo was professor of history at Rice University in the United States, where he led in the study of cultures. He was educated at Makerere University in Uganda and the University of Nairobi in Kenya.Odhiambo retired from Rice University due to illness and moved back with his wife to their home in Ndere, Siaya, before his 2009 death at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu. Bibliography

Ways to listen

Episode 2: Little Palaces

Released on 18th December, 2020

Facebook-f Twitter Icon-email

EPISODE 2 LEARNING RESOURSES

Released on December 18, 2020 By Book Bunk

Little Palaces

Wachuka and Wanjiru introduce us to Jacob Ananda, Head Librarian of McMillan Memorial Library and Orpah Agunda, an Inventory intern at Book Bunk and long-term resident of Kaloleni. Both featured guests share how growing up in Makadara and Kaloleni, the libraries shaped them into who they are today by instilling in them a love for books and inclusive public spaces.

Eastlands history
Makadara history
Kaloleni history
Book Bunk Kaloleni video
Book Bunk Makadara video
Book Bunk Music Bunk video
East Africa Safari Rally
King’s African Rifles Men (here, here and here)
Burma wars with KAR
Tree planting for fallen soldiers in the KAR

Ways to listen

Episode 3: The People Need Public Space

Released on 23rd December, 2021

Facebook-f Twitter Icon-email

EPISODE 3 LEARNING RESOURSES

Released on December 23, 2020 By Book Bunk

The People Need Public Space

In this episode, we listen to Dr. Wangui Kimari and Dr. Alfred Omenya converse with Wanjiru and Wachuka about the colonial history of Nairobi’s urban planning and how these segregated divisions endure in present-day Nairobi. Nairobi was not made for us. Wanjiru explores how we can change this by highlighting the importance of public space in fostering creativity in Nairobi’s citizens.

1973 Nairobi Master plan
1948 Master Plan
2014 Master Plan

24 Nairobi (re: architecture episode)
History of the railway in EA and Nairobi
Save the Railway Project
Nairobi Today: Paradox of a Fragmented City
Mau Mau struggle (MBC)
Nairobi Public Space Inventory – UN Habitat
Wangari Maathai (Green Belt Movement)
Naipolitans

Ways to listen

Episode 4: Books! Books! Books!

Released on 4th January, 2021

Facebook-f Twitter Icon-email

EPISODE 4 LEARNING RESOURSES

Released on January 04, 2021 By Book Bunk

Books! Books! Books!

How to actually build a library! In this episode, Wachuka begins by telling us about the process of creating the first-ever digital catalogue of McMillan Memorial Library. It took 23 people, 8,332 hours and loads of stickers! She also speaks with Dr. Henry Chakava, a publisher with the African Writers Series from Heinemann in the 1970s. Both of them converse on Nairobi and East Africa’s rich literary scene. Many of these authors’ books from the region will find a home in McMillan Library and its branches.

Heinemann African Writers’ Series.
Cataloguing video
Naivasha Maximum Security Prison Break – John Kiriamiti
My Life in Crime/TBC link?
Wachuka’s 100 days of African Reads?
TBC/BB link

Ways to listen

Episode 5: A Palace Needs a Roof

Released on 17th March, 2021

Facebook-f Twitter Icon-email

EPISODE 5 LEARNING RESOURSES

Released on March 17, 2021 By Book Bunk

A Palace Needs a Roof

In this episode Wanjiru and Wachuka go deep into the history of architecture and the British empire. We ask, who designed the McMillan Memorial Library building? And how do we make sure we keep it standing?

Wanjiru speaks to Dr. Sarah Longair – an expert in the architecture of the British Empire- to try and find out more about the design, and we speak to architect Balmoi Abe, about the future of the building.

Any original designs (or info on architects) // C. Rand Overy
Visions of the Global: The Classical and the Eclectic in Colonial East Africa
East African Standard speech (1931 newspaper). Maybe we have it in our archive
Images of McMillan during colonial period
Thika Blue Stone
African Modernism: The Architecture of Independence
Palaces for the people – Eric Klinenberg
Kenya National Anthem by Dela

Ways to listen

Episode 6: A Palace full of Memories (KAR)

Released on 24th March, 2021

Facebook-f Twitter Icon-email

EPISODE 6 LEARNING RESOURSES

Released on March 24, 2021 By Book Bunk

Episode 6 – A Palace full of Memories (KAR)

In this episode, we explore a significant element of Kenya’s history; the King’s African Rifles. How is this multi-battalion British imperial regiment connected to the McMillan Memorial Library?

- Matathia
- A History of the Kikuyu from 1500-1900, Godfrey Muriuki
1. Facing Mt.Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta
2. The Southern Kikuyu Before 1903, L.S.B. Leakey
- Marion: The zebra skin cover journal
- Gerald: Digitising the archive
1. Images and videos of digitisation process
2. Featured: Jack Losh, John Onyiego, Interns – Trevas Matathia, Marion Anvango, Gerald Kariuki

Ways to listen

Episode 7: Bunk Books

Released on 1st April , 2021

Facebook-f Twitter Icon-email

EPISODE 7 LEARNING RESOURSES

Released on April 1 , 2021 By Book Bunk

Episode 7 – Bunk Books

HC radio drama assets : Book availability, cover, featured crew
Further reading list on the 2017/18 Post-Election Violence

Dust, by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
It’s our Turn to Eat, by Michela Wrong
Dance of the Jakaranda, by Peter Kimani
The Last Villains of Molo, by Kinyanjui Kombani
Kenya Burning: Mgogoro Baada ya Uchaguzi, by Boniface Mwangi & Yasuyoshi Chiba
Kwani? 05 (Parts 1 & 2), by Kwani Trust
One Day I Will Write about this Place – by Binyavanga Wainaina.

Ways to listen

Episode 8: Live Episode

Released on 27th April , 2021

Facebook-f Twitter Icon-email

EPISODE 7 LEARNING RESOURSES

Released on April 27 , 2021 By Book Bunk

Episode 8 – Live Episode

Welcome to the last episode of Season One of A Palace For The People! We are thrilled to have so many of you listen in.

In our finale live episode, we answer your questions about Book Bunk, the podcast, the libraries and our plans for these palaces for the people. Tune in and hear our responses to your questions.

Ways to listen