We've all heard this before: don't Google your symptoms. Yet, when we feel a twitch or an itch and a tingling in our hair, our fingers instinctively reach for our phones. And it's not just physical ailments that send us searching. Those suffering from the symptoms of love and heartbreak are just as guilty. 

Dear Google, what should I do if my man isn’t responding to my texts immediately? She said we need to talk, what does that mean? My boyfriend dreamt of another girl, is he cheating on me? Why does my wife take her phone to the bathroom? These and many other questions have served as great material for content creation for users on Reddit and TikTok. While many spent Valentine’s Day confirming that indeed they were the only ones in their relationships, Mvua Press, an imprint of eKitabu, marked the occasion by launching When Love Says Goodbye by Kenyan poet Scholastica Moraa. 

The evening of Valentine’s saw a buzz of activities at Alliance Française, a venue well known for its long-standing support of the arts, with attendees in theme for the Red Party in their reds and blacks. The event opened with a warm introduction from the moderators, who set the stage for a night of insightful discussions on love and loss,  poetry, spoken word performances and music. The crowd—a mix of authors, poetry lovers, book club owners, bookstores and literary journalists, was treated to a special When Love Says Goodbye puzzle and speed dating questions to get acquainted with each other. eKitabu’s voice artist Diana brought Moraa’s lines to life during an excerpt reading on one of her poems that gave the book its title, each line resonating with depth and intimacy among the crowd. Here is what it says:

‍It is terrifying how love comes into your life

And shows you things you never knew

Gives you things you never thought you wanted.

Now you are here,

In love

In love with being in love

‍

But you wonder,

What will happen when love says goodbye?

How will you live again?

How will you feel again?

In addition to the readings, a lineup of Kenyan spoken word artists including award-winning poet Willy Oeba, Kijana Mtanashati, Dorphanage, Winnie Madoro, Vivy Kabz, and Poet Incosole from Alliance Française, wowed the crowds with beautifully-curated words that expressed the heartbreaks of goodbyes and beautiful hellos. The soulful acoustic sets by Ras Amor, Tajeo and  Cheif and the Marshalls provided a melodic backdrop that weaved in perfectly into the evening’s mood. 

‍Poetic anguish

When words fail, let Moraa’s poetry speak for you. Picture this—Nairobians, forgive me for saying this. As the city is often described, it’s nothing more than a “big bedroom”. Now, imagine discovering that your lover has another lover. The weight of betrayal settles in, and you’re struggling to process this daunting revelation. Instead of resorting to the tired, “Why are you cheating on me?” question, you could express your anguish in a way that carries more depth, more poetry:

I sometimes wonder if we were half women

That you had to have two of us

To make a full woman

Through carefully crafted verses, Moraa captures the words of those who feel deeply but are ashamed that their feelings won’t be reciprocated. 

Among those who recognized Moraa’s achievement was Kitutu Masaba Member of Parliament, Clive Ombane Gisairo, who praised her work and emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent. “This is the problem with our curriculum,” he said. “As a member of the education committee in Parliament, I will continue pushing for reforms that allow our students to engage in activities they enjoy. Moraa is an actuarial scientist, but she is also a poet. That is very encouraging.”

Adding to the celebration, Moraa’s former high school teachers from Ng’iya Girls’ School made the eight-hour journey from Siaya County to witness the momentous occasion. They lauded her impressive accomplishment, reminiscing about her dedication and passion for literature during her school years.

Holding emerging artists by the hand

For years, poetry has been dismissed and even “making it” as a poet seems like a daunting journey. Bookstores hesitate to stock poetry books fearing they might not sell. However, the launch of When Love Says Goodbye challenged this notion. The presence of young poets, seasoned writers, journalists and supporters of Moraa at the event proved the resilience of this sophisticated art form. 

Alliance Française reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the arts in Kenya by hosting this event. The venue has long been a launchpad for emerging authors, bands, and artists, with celebrated names like Sarabi, Winyo the Benga King, Suzanna Owiyo, and Africa’s beloved boy band, Sauti Sol, tracing their roots back to its stage. Beyond music and literature, Alliance Française plays a vital role in Kenya’s creative landscape—providing free stands for authors during book fairs and offering event spaces at no cost to support artistic expression.

This event, if anything, served as a reminder that poetry is not only alive but evolving, and it is finding other ways to connect with its audiences in the modern age. 

Lovers don’t choose love, love chooses them. Perhaps the same can be said for Poetry. Seeing how packed the room was during and at the end of the party was something to be proud of. The event was not just a spectacle, but a moment for poetry defying its presumed death. It was a declaration that poetry is deeply embedded in our cultural and literary landscape. As long as Poets like Moraa who are willing to put raw emotion into words, poetry will continue to find it’s audience, one verse at a time.  

Tracy Ochieng is a staff writer with Books in Africa. Email: tracy.ochieng@ekitabu.com