Ay-Alley

Hi. I am Ayeesha

Writer & Storyteller based in Nairobi

Latest Posts
Letters to the Girl Who Wanted to Leave

Letters to the Girl Who Wanted to Leave

At nineteen I was sure my real life was waiting somewhere else. A letter back to her, from the woman who stayed.

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On Writing in Three Languages

On Writing in Three Languages

I dream in Swahili, work in English and joke in Sheng. Learning to let all three onto the page changed how I w...

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Nyama Choma Is Not a Meal, It's an Afternoon

Nyama Choma Is Not a Meal, It's an Afternoon

You don't go out for nyama choma because you are hungry. You go because it's Saturday, your friends are free,...

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Sunday Pilau and the Women Who Taught Me to Cook

Sunday Pilau and the Women Who Taught Me to Cook

Every family has a pilau and every family thinks theirs is the right one. This is ours, and the women behind i...

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Weekend Escape: Naivasha and Hell's Gate on a Budget

Weekend Escape: Naivasha and Hell's Gate on a Budget

Two hours from Nairobi, a lake full of hippos and a gorge you can cycle through. A cheap, easy weekend plan fo...

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Lamu: Where Time Moves at the Speed of a Donkey

Lamu: Where Time Moves at the Speed of a Donkey

No cars, narrow stone streets, dhows at sunset. A few days in Lamu Old Town taught me what slowing down actual...

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A Simple Skincare Routine for Nairobi Weather

A Simple Skincare Routine for Nairobi Weather

Dusty dry seasons, cold July mornings, sudden April rains. A no-fuss routine that has kept my skin calm throug...

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