On Thursday 21 March at 10 am, National Museums of Kenya, at Malindi Heritage Complex, with the Italian Cultural Institute of Nairobi presents an exhibition of illustrations dedicated to great African writers, as part of the 'Readings from Africa' project of the NGO 'Doctors with Africa Cuamm', the first among those recognised in Italy that are committed to promoting and protecting the health of African populations.
It consists of 12 literary works by 12 African authors, selected by the operators of the NGO as significant references of openness and knowledge about the continent, and entrusted to the creative interpretation of the illustrator Andrea Mongia.
Born as a calendar for 2023, the project takes for the first time the form of a real exhibition, interweaving the words taken from some masterpieces of contemporary African literature with the images created by one of the most interesting illustrators on the Italian scene. The twelve chapters of the project are enriched in Kenya by a homage to one of its most brilliant authors: an original illustration is in fact dedicated to the novel 'Someday I will tell you about this place' by the late Binyavanga Wainaina.
The continent's literature is currently experiencing a period of grace. After winning major prizes worldwide, it is securing an ever more attentive and numerous readership, thanks to new generations of writers who offer a lively and formally uninhibited narrative.  
With this new exhibition project, the Italian Cultural Institute in Nairobi intends to contribute to the dissemination of this great cultural heritage, while at the same time giving space to the creativity of a young Italian talent, whose works have been published in some of the most famous and prestigious international publications. 
In addition to Wainaina's novel and the one by the greatest writer in Kenyan history, Ngugi Wa Thiongo ("The Wizard of Crows"), the illustrations concern "The Way of Hunger" by Ben Okri, "On the Seashore" by Abdelrazak Gurnah, "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, "Love Ballad in the Wind" by Paulina Chiziane, "This Body in Mourning" by Tsitsi Dangarembaa, "The Promise" by Damon Galgut, "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, "Yaka" by Pepetela, "Tooth Thieves" by Djarah Kan, "Under the Frangipani Tree" by Antonio Emilio Leite Couto and "The Theory of Flight" by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu. The exhibition, which will remain on public view until 21 May, will be presented by Kenyan journalist and writer, Rasna Warah.