When words and colours collide: How Mum and daughter bring poetry to life

It is not every day that a mother and her daughter collaborate to produce a book. But Njeri Wangari and her daughter, Naomi Nyawira, recently achieved this rare feat, when they launched My Colouring Book of Rhymes last Saturday.

Njeri wrote the rhymes, while Nyawira created the illustrations. Njeri is no stranger to the Kenyan literary scene, where she is known as the Kenyan Poet. She is a spoken word artist, poet and author.

“Nyawira, our first born, is a 14-year-old budding visual and performing artist,” Njeri says. “A protégé of the legendary Patrick Mukabi, Nyawira showed a knack for visual arts when she was only eight.”

“Working on this project with her was as profound for me as it was fulfilling and reflective for us both. With a natural eye for colour and form, she infused the book with a child centered vibrancy that I could not have achieved on my own,” she adds

The launch at Baraza Media Lab in Lavington was a joyful occasion for Njeri. Alongside guests, including children, three generations of her family—her mother among them—were there to witness the ‘birth’ of the newest family baby. To celebrate, Njeri invited a special guest—Mrs. Njoroge, her former English teacher at Wangige Primary, who also taught her mother!

Following the launch, Maisha Yetu had an interview with Njeri. Here are the excerpts:

My Colouring Book of Rhymes is of very high quality; where was it printed?

Thank you. My printer will be very happy to read this. The book was actually printed locally. I chose self-publishing after three years of unanswered queries. The process was intense and sometimes frustrating, but holding the printed book made it all worthwhile.

What informed your decision to write this book?

Several factors influenced by decision. It started in 2013 when I founded Afrokidz and launched the Safari Tales storytelling app.  I’ve always been a strong advocate of African stories and the importance of children seeing themselves in the narratives they consume, whether in books or animations.

For this particular book, I wanted to create something my three children could enjoy and relate to. Since birth, they’ve known me as the “Kenyanpoet” watching my spoken word performances for mature audiences. I wanted to reconnect with the age when poetry was fun and enganging for young readers.

I also wanted to challenge our notions of poetry and offer an alternative to storybooks that are equally enjoyable.

Making it a coloring book was an experimental choice, driven by the hope that the interactive element would deepen a child’s engagement and allow them to become co-creators in the storytelling process.

What is targeted age group for this book and why should they buy it?

The book is targeted at children aged between two and nine, as it serves both a great bedtime story book as well as an activity book.

What is the state of children’s writing in Kenya? Are we getting it?
Children’s writing in Kenya remains constrained by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) lens through which many publishers evaluate manuscripts. Based on my own observations from hosting the Kids Lit Club—a collaborative book reading and storytelling event—over 70 per cent of children’s books intended purely for leisure reading are self-published. By focusing only on books that qualify for the Orange Book, we are not just limiting the industry’s growth but also contributing to the scarcity of diverse African stories for our children.

Can anyone write for children?

Not really. One of the biggest learning curves for me was doing a complete overhaul of my poetry writing craft. From honing my poetic voice for the last 18 years to taking it back to the basics, I came to the realisation that there was a lot I had to let go of. I had to let go of my style of writing poetry for adults, which was devoid of rhymes, alliteration, to doubling down on such technical devices to achieve poems that were simple, sweet and smooth on the tongue.

It was frustrating killing my darlings over and over with every draft review. At one point, I thought to myself, “maybe this children’s writing is not for me”. However, after reading lots of children’s books, I felt I had a better grasp of what it really takes to write for children.

After years as a published spoken word artist, are Kenyans closer to appreciating poetry, or do they still find it ‘difficult’?

We’re no closer now than when I first published Mines & Mindfields 15 years ago. Until our education system adopts more innovative ways of teaching poetry, many Kenyans will continue to find it difficult, despite interacting with it daily.

In 2019, I was invited to conduct a two-week poetry workshop to 300 Grade 5 and 6 students at Stillwater and Oakland Middle Schools in Minnesota, US. While working closely with English teachers, I had the freedom to design the course and teaching style. One of the most popular lessons focused on imagery, alliteration, rhyme, and rhythm—taught using the lyrics of Eminem’s Lose Yourself. Can all poets become spoken word artistes - and vice versa - and is there a difference between the two?

Not all poets are spoken word artists, but all spoken word artists are poets. Spoken word is a poetry sub-genre that emphasizes oral delivery.
Africans traditionally experienced poetry orally before it became academic, with more focus on published poets. The resurgence of spoken word began with Def Poetry Jam in 2002, sparking its rise into a global movement. What sets it apart is its rich use of rhythm and prose, enhancing oral performance.

Are Kenyan publishers doing more to promote poetry?

No they are not. Like I shared earlier, most Kenyan publishers are focused solely on educational publishing. In such an environment, poetry manuscripts and books don’t stand a chance. Most of the poets I know, Eudiah Kamonjo, Michael Onsando just to name a few, have all self-published.

Tell us more about Wellness Culture and your role in it.

Kenyanpoet Wellness is a business I founded in March last year as the storytelling sub-brand for the wellness community. Seven years ago, I started running—initially for physical health. Over time, it became more than just a way to shed weight; it brought clarity, catharsis, and even enhanced my creativity, which naturally flowed into my writing.

Today, Kenyanpoet Wellness is an established storytelling brand among amateur runners, offering authentic, homegrown narratives while helping companies integrate wellness into their culture. As the founder and creative lead, I share wellness stories through blog articles, the Words on Wellness podcast, and offline through poetic placards.

Advice to aspiring poets and spoken word artists?

Let poetry be your anchor, not your sole career. Hone your craft and explore diverse ways to use it—whether in corporate roles like copywriting, editing, PR, and communications or as a freelance content creator. But don’t assume poetry alone will pay the bills. For many, including myself, poetry is a labor of love that keeps us grounded. From it, other writing opportunities emerge. Learn to strike that balance.

What is the way forward for the Kenyan Poet?

My energies are now focused on doing a tour of school and public readings to change Kenyans’ perception.

Ngunjiri is the curator of Maisha Yetu, a digital Arts and Books media platform [email protected]