This archive report was first published on 14 August 2019.
David Ikanyi, a 26-year-old student and businessman from Mpeketoni, Lamu, has achieved a remarkable feat by publishing a poetry anthology called A Thief of Sanity. The anthology, which consists of 50 poems, was published by Contact Zones Publishers in December 2018.
Ikanyi, who is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Economics at the University of Nairobi, has always been passionate about writing. His journey to becoming a published writer began with an apology letter he wrote in Form 3 at his high school.
Ikanyi recalls that his high school captain asked him to write an apology letter for noise-making, and he deliberately threw in lots of vocabulary that his captain didn't understand. To his surprise, his captain let him off the hook and advised him to consider writing a novel. Interestingly, a year later, Ikanyi was named the best writer in his school.
Ikanyi's writing journey has not been without its challenges. He has experienced writer's block, which he humorously refers to as a 'writer's wall.' He has also faced criticism from people who thought he was introverted because he spent a lot of time writing.
Despite these challenges, Ikanyi remains committed to his craft. He believes that patience is essential for a writer, and he has learned to look at his work from different perspectives. He also draws inspiration from his surroundings and keeps a diary to record his sentiments about various issues in his life.
Ikanyi's poetry anthology has received positive feedback from readers, who are intrigued by his style and themes, particularly his exploration of religion. He hopes that his book will inspire readers and that he will be able to accomplish his purpose of publishing it.
When he's not writing, Ikanyi enjoys watching movie series, particularly 'The Originals,' which he admires for its poetic language. He plans to write another book, this time in prose, but not in the near future.
