A community centered public art talk and poetry book launch exploring migration, memory and belonging is set for Apr. 18 in Lawrence, MA.
Hosted by author, artist and educator Wangeci Gitau, Coka Mũciĩ (come home) will take place from 4 p.m to 6 p.m. at Modular Studios and is free and open to the public, with books available for purchase.
Rather than a traditional reading, the event is designed to bring together film, spoken word, music, food and visual art.
The project is rooted in Gitau’s personal journey returning to Kenya for the first time in 24 years, where she connected with Gikũyũ, the native language of her ancestors. That experience shaped a bilingual poetry collection in Gikũyũ and English, reflecting themes of home, loss and survival. The work also speaks to broader immigrant experiences, including language loss, separation and the search for belonging.
The evening will include a short film documenting Gitau’s 2025 trip to Kenya, a bilingual poetry reading, facilitated art talk, and a book signing. Organizers say the space will also feature Kenyan cuisine and flower installation to create an environment centered on reflection and community.
Hosting the event in Lawrence is intentional, according to organizers, who describe the city to be sustained by immigrant communities who understand migration as a lived experience rather than an abstraction. The gathering aims to create space for open conversation about language loss, displacement, and belonging, and to challenge the notion that immigrants must prove their worth.
The event will also be livestreamed to reach beyond the local Lawrence community.
More info at wangecigitau.com.
Author
About Lizzy Nyoike - Mshale Contributing Reporter
Lizzy Nyoike is a Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication student.
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