Lilac Uprising

The collection of 85 poems covers a ‘wonderfully varied, in terms of geography, theme and tone.

‘Phyllis Muthoni is an essential emergent Kenyan poet.  Her poetry is inspirational, one that gathers from everyday life, one that easily urges us to write on, for it makes every moment on earth extraordinary.  Her debut poetry collection, Lilac Uprising, delightful and helpful, is a text with the beauty of craft. ‘Soon,’ writes Phyllis, ‘the streets will be a revolution of colour, suffused with a tangible tenderness.’

 – Khainga Okwemba; Treasurer, PEN International (Kenya Chapter)

Phyllis Muthoni has contributed poems to Kwani?, the literary journal, and the Black Arts Quarterly magazine (Stanford University). She has been writing poetry ‘seriously’ since 2003. Her investment in time and thought shines through in this collection that has been likened to ‘a cool drink of water: clear, spare, fresh and vital’ (Doreen Baingana, author, Tropical Fish).

Lilac Uprising, the title poem, is part of a four-piece poem that utilizes the life stages of a Jacaranda tree to highlight how she deals with the loss of her grandmother.