Soila Kenya
@soila.bsky.social
🇰🇪 🇳🇬, africanist, womanist, award-winning data journo & pop-culturist @coldtakegeeks.bsky.social MA 🎓 @charlesuni.cuni.cz @au.dk @dmjx.bsky.social Re-imagining Africa @africansffhype.bsky.social Check out my Feeds and Lists tabs ↓↓↓ www.soilakenya.com
Where the Naruto stans at? 👀
Cold Take Geeks@coldtakegeeks.bsky.social · 3mo ago"Kishimoto kind of ate when it came to imperialism in his series and how Konoha is such a perfect example of it, both internally and externally." Our latest by Natalie Gumo #naruto #narutoshippuden #kenyangeeks #manga #anime coldtakegeeks.co.ke/otsutsuki-in...
"Kishimoto kind of ate when it came to imperialism in his series and how Konoha is such a perfect example of it, both internally and externally." Our latest by Natalie Gumo #naruto #narutoshippuden #kenyangeeks #manga #anime coldtakegeeks.co.ke/otsutsuki-in...
Otsutsuki Indra and His Descendants Were Robbed by Imperialism
With the current global political climate (S/O Aquarius in Pluto) let’s revisit Naruto and Naruto Shippuden’s primary theme: Imperialism.
coldtakegeeks.co.ke
After a long unintentional hiatus, we're back!
Cold Take Geeks@coldtakegeeks.bsky.social · 4mo ago"I still believe that the general message the novel makes is a good one... Thought stopping techniques won’t cure your depression, but you can manage it by other means." By @verak.bsky.social coldtakegeeks.co.ke/cindy-pham-w... #thesecretworldofbriarrose #reading #yafantasy #yaromantasy #novels
"I still believe that the general message the novel makes is a good one... Thought stopping techniques won’t cure your depression, but you can manage it by other means." By @verak.bsky.social coldtakegeeks.co.ke/cindy-pham-w... #thesecretworldofbriarrose #reading #yafantasy #yaromantasy #novels
Cindy Pham Was Not Ready for The Secret World of Briar Rose
When someone of great taste and a keen eye turns their hand to that same craft, there’s an expectation that anything they produce will be…
coldtakegeeks.co.ke
"With fandoms rewarding chemistry-driven pairings and fan service continuing to generate enormous engagement," @tabbykibugiwriter.bsky.social writes, "production companies have little incentive to move away from the formula that helped Thai GL become globally successful in the first place."
The Limits of Fan Service in Thailand’s Vibrant GL Genre
Thai “Girls Love” thrives on real-life star pairings—for better and for worse.
fansplaining.com
#journorequest Are you a K-pop fan based in an African country? For @fansplaining.bsky.social, I'm covering the growth of K-pop fandoms across Africa and how fans are creating their own spaces through conventions, fan events, dance crews, etc. Email: tabbykibugiwrites@gmail.com, for a chat. Thx!
Happy Pride Month! Kick it off with the fantastic @tabbykibugiwriter.bsky.social diving into the Thai Girls Love genre for @fansplaining.bsky.social ! fansplaining.com/the-limits-o...
The Limits of Fan Service in Thailand’s Vibrant GL Genre
Thai “Girls Love” thrives on real-life star pairings—for better and for worse.
fansplaining.com
Our latest piece is SUCH an interesting read, and so well-reported! Hollywood could do far better re: understanding and engaging with fans, but would I want them to be hyper-aware of fans' desires to the point where they're shaping whole projects around ~sharable shippy moments~? (No lol)
Fansplaining@fansplaining.bsky.social · 4mo agoOur latest is live! 💖 @tabbykibugiwriter.bsky.social writes about the thriving GL scene in Thailand—and how the industry's prioritization of fan service around pairings might be limiting the shows themselves. Read or listen to an audio version:
Reviews, interviews, new podcasts & magazines to check out—check out @casella.bsky.social's latest Wow! Signal link round-up:
Wow! Signal: June 2026
Jake Casella Brookins It’s been a distressingly busy month for me, but it’s mostly with good things. I’m over the moon about the success of ARB’s first fundraiser—backers, we’ll be getting rewards …
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org
@soila.bsky.social on non-native English speakers reading and writing fanfiction in English, the language that has the most global "linguistic capital" in fandom.
The Elation and Anxiety of Reading Fic in Your Native Tongue
For fans in Kenya, Nigeria, and Burundi, “uncringing” non-English fanfiction is an endeavor in decolonialism.
fansplaining.com
Y'all, I can't overstate how much I enjoyed working with @lincodega.com and @elizabethminkel.bsky.social on this story!!!! Lin really made me rethink and refine my arguments in the essay. You should have seen the first draft 😩 Very knowledgeable and passionate people 🙌🏾
Fansplaining@fansplaining.bsky.social · 4mo agoIn our latest, @soila.bsky.social writes about the complicated ways colonialism and cultural hegemony can separate English (for fanfiction, fun) from non-native speakers' local languages (for Serious Literature, everyday life). Read or listen to an audio version: fansplaining.com/the-elation-...
I would do unspeakable things for a first contact novel by @shingai-be-like.bsky.social … that doesn’t help you I just had to say it
Oh and as part of prep for my forthcoming novel THE FIST OF MEMORY, I'm making a list of science fiction novels by BIPOC or non-Western authors that include either 1) First Contact or 2) a Big Dumb Object (BDO) or 3) A Hivemind. Really want to get as many as possible. All recommendations welcome!
“If I post a fic in Isoko, how many people can actually read it? English makes fanfic feel universal, while local languages can make it feel limited.” @soila.bsky.social talks to Nigerian fic writer si11yw0rm alongside other fans from Kenya and Burundi about the dominance of English in fandom:
The Elation and Anxiety of Reading Fic in Your Native Tongue
For fans in Kenya, Nigeria, and Burundi, “uncringing” non-English fanfiction is an endeavor in decolonialism.
fansplaining.com
This piece is SO GOOD. @soila.bsky.social & editor @lincodega.com worked magic to bring this final product together. As I was editing the audio version, I kept finding myself nodding at particularly sharp points, e.g., how only English gets to be the language of "play." Please read and share widely!
Fansplaining@fansplaining.bsky.social · 4mo ago"There are currently only three fanfics on the Archive of Our Own written in Swahili." In our latest, @soila.bsky.social writes about the dominance of English in fandom and especially fic, including the perspectives of fellow fans in Kenya, Nigeria, and Burundi. Read or listen to an audio version:
I was so delighted to help shepherd this piece through the edit process. @soila.bsky.social digs into why she -- and many other African fans -- feel "cringe" when reading or writing fanfic in their native languages. A fantastic discussion of colonial history, contemporary lit, and fandom.
Fansplaining@fansplaining.bsky.social · 4mo ago"There are currently only three fanfics on the Archive of Our Own written in Swahili." In our latest, @soila.bsky.social writes about the dominance of English in fandom and especially fic, including the perspectives of fellow fans in Kenya, Nigeria, and Burundi. Read or listen to an audio version:
SO IMPORTANT (goes straight to fanfic class next week)
Aja Romano@bookshop.bsky.social · 4mo agoToday's Fansplaining article is a must-read. @soila.bsky.social was part of several of my fave panels at Seattle Worldcon, and I was elated to see her write about decolonizing fanfiction for us! fansplaining.com/the-elation-...
OK, cet article est aussi fascinant qu'instructif. Lisez-le si vous avez un intérêt pour les thèmes de la littérature, la fanfiction, la décolonisation et les interactions langue / culture. // English TL;DR: read this! Thanks to @soila.bsky.social. It moved me and made me reflect on many things!
Fansplaining@fansplaining.bsky.social · 4mo ago"There are currently only three fanfics on the Archive of Our Own written in Swahili." In our latest, @soila.bsky.social writes about the dominance of English in fandom and especially fic, including the perspectives of fellow fans in Kenya, Nigeria, and Burundi. Read or listen to an audio version:
Today's Fansplaining article is a must-read. @soila.bsky.social was part of several of my fave panels at Seattle Worldcon, and I was elated to see her write about decolonizing fanfiction for us! fansplaining.com/the-elation-...
The Elation and Anxiety of Reading Fic in Your Native Tongue
For fans in Kenya, Nigeria, and Burundi, “uncringing” non-English fanfiction is an endeavor in decolonialism.
fansplaining.com
Peeps! I have arisen from my social media slumber (again 😅) to come promote my new article with Fansplaining! Super excited for this to be out as it's been in the works for a while now. 5,000 words. African fandom deep dive. Language capital. Decolonialism. Let's go! 🚀
Fansplaining@fansplaining.bsky.social · 4mo ago"There are currently only three fanfics on the Archive of Our Own written in Swahili." In our latest, @soila.bsky.social writes about the dominance of English in fandom and especially fic, including the perspectives of fellow fans in Kenya, Nigeria, and Burundi. Read or listen to an audio version:
I have achieved the ultimate. I have been chibi-fied 🙌🏾 Praise be
Cold Take Geeks@coldtakegeeks.bsky.social · 9mo agoAnime, manga, and light novel titles said: what if the entire plot was the title? An inquisition into stories with names longer than my attention span + other title conventions 👀 Written by @verak.bsky.bsky.social, illustration by @trbclldstressed.bsky.social: coldtakegeeks.co.ke/whats-up-wit...
Aww, I can't believe my height-mate (almost, I'm 2cm taller than her lol) is fine with the tracks. She's seemed immortal all these years... worldathletics.org/women-in-ath...
The last dance for Fraser-Pryce | World Athletics
For once, the woman widely regarded as the greatest female sprinter the world has seen wanted to take it slow
worldathletics.org
Maybe the last time I will comment about the genre/sff scene (and maybe it will not be the last time). There is so much nastiness, so much bullying that sometimes you forget that you have the kind folk. The brutality forces people into silence. But the kind folk are there. Just hidden.
Tokoloshe Hunters ships worldwide!
This is a common conundrum for us marginalised folks now that the world is so globalised but I'm super lucky to have an easily pronounceable name 😀 africa.businessinsider.com/careers/i-ca...
I called myself 'James' on my résumé and finally got a job. Here's why I've started using my birth name again at work.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with 28-year-old Mwangi Wanjau, who is from Kenya and based in Canada
africa.businessinsider.com
So anyway, turns out plasma in menstrual blood can completely heal wounds in 24 hours. hudson.org.au/news/womb-to...
Womb to wounds: menstrual fluid could repair damaged skin
Scientists are demonstrating how the womb’s unique ability to rapidly rebuild itself could be harnessed to heal difficult chronic wounds.
hudson.org.au
Jessica Price@delafina777.bsky.social · last yr.Anyway, scientists should get the fuck over being whiny little wretches who are scared of female bodies, because menstrual stem cells appear to be industrial printers compared to bone stem cell little desktop printers and you don’t have to drill into bones to get them. www.gavi.org/vaccineswork...
