A Palace For The People A Palace For The People

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 Heinneman 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.

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.

Wachuka and Wanjiru introduce us to Jacob Ananda, Head Librarian of McMillan Memorial Library and Orpah Agunda, Book Bunk Inventory intern. Both of them 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.

A short history of McMillan Memorial Library including 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.

Welcome to A Palace for The People, a podcast unearthing pieces of Nairobi’s history that support and feed the restoration process of the McMillan Memorial Library and its branches in Makadara and Kaloleni. Hosted by the Founders of Book Bunk; Angela Wachuka and Wanjiru Koinange, the title of this podcast is inspired by Eric Klinenberg’s book, Palaces for The People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life.

Join us on an eight-part journey featuring conversations with featured guests including McMillan Memorial Library’s Chief Librarian, Jacob Ananda, Kaloleni resident Orpah Agunda, Urban Ethnographer Dr. Wangui Kimari, Environmental Architect Dr. Alfred Omenya, Publisher Henry Chakava and Social Heritage Architect Balmoi Abe. Conversations are centred around the McMillan Library; its history; the restoration process; the importance of designing public spaces with people in mind; plans for the library; publishing in African languages, and the future of Nairobi’s public spaces.

Produced by Maeve Frances, Wanjiru Koinange and Angela Wachuka
Research & fact-checking by Syokau Mutonga
Sound Design by Maeve Frances and Anthony Kiringe