The Joy of Hosting the Zeda Book Club

When I started the Zeda Book Club, I knew I wanted to build something special, but I didn’t expect it to bring me this much joy. What began as a simple idea to gather women around books and café hop has grown into a space of deep connection, reflection, and so much laughter. It’s been one of the most fulfilling parts of my year.

I started the Zeda Book Club because I’ve always believed that books are more than just stories, they’re mirrors, windows, and sometimes even doors. As I built Zeda as a platform for authentic stories and bold voices, it felt natural to extend that mission into a community of readers.

I wanted a space where women could come together to read, reflect, and talk about the things that matter to us, such as love, freedom, identity, legacy and power.

And so, the Zeda Book Club was born: women-only, once a month, with a rotating selection of books and a playful approach to café hopping around Nairobi. The idea was simple: make reading fun again, and let sisterhood grow organically.

Our reading list this year has already taken us through some powerful terrain. In February we read All About Love by bell hooks. This classic read challenged us to rethink how we give and receive love, and how love can be a radical force for change.

In March we read Unbowed by Wangari Maathai. This memoir by the late Kenyan icon moved us deeply. It sparked conversations about activism, environmental justice, and what it means to stand your ground as a woman in the face of resistance.

In April we’re reading What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah. Our first short story collection of the year has been a hit according to the WhatsApp group. Arimah’s writing is inventive, sharp, and emotionally layered, every story has given us something to chew on, from grief to power to the absurdity of human connection.

More than the books I’ve been loving the community that’s made this journey so beautiful. Every month, I watch women show up, some quiet, some bold, and leave a little more seen, heard, and nourished. Our meetups are full of heartfelt takes, playful debates, and unexpected laughter. Even when we disagree (and we do!), it’s done with respect and curiosity.

I’ve also loved the ritual of it, choosing the next book, scouting out the next café, preparing discussion prompts. It feels like an offering of time, of space, of intention. And it reminds me why I do what I do with Zeda.

This club has become a love letter to the kind of joy, reflection, and community that women deserve to experience regularly. We’re only a few months in, but I already know this is something I want to nurture for the long haul. If you’d like to join us, fill in this form. Otherwise, happy reading!