In his social networks, the writer has gradually made known the bookshop's stamp. National authors, from Timor Liste, Cape Verde, Portugal and other PALOP will fill the shelves. But there will be plenty of space for well-known names in international literature such as Luis Sepúlveda, Franz Kafka or Ernest Hemingway.
With an address in Luanda, in the Alvalade neighborhood, and opening scheduled for this month, Kiela will be the “starting point” of an even more extensive project by the writer: the creation of a publisher, which will be called Kacimbo and is still in forge.
About the bookstore - of which he is one of the partners - Ondjaki said that the “technical details” are being finalized and that all biosafety rules in the space will be complied with. To the Novo Jornal, the author also said that Kiela will open doors with around 500 titles.
“We want to practice great diversity in terms of content and be a bookstore that works with African authors,” explained the writer to the same publication. Translations, prose, poetry and children's books will be available.
In addition to the editorial aspect, Ondjaki also mentioned that “Kiela wants to have a real party of the word, not only with books, but also with activities aimed at children and adults”.
Asked by Novo Jornal about the country's economic situation and the risks of exploring a new business in this context, the author showed confidence, saying that the aim is “to challenge Angolan society to change the relationship it has with books and with book prices ”.
For Ondjaki, “it is not just a question of return, but of a new attitude towards books and reading”. He also said that he considers this the time to “think seriously” about the fees charged on importing books.
