In Nairobi, two women take on the challenge of restoring a crumbling local library once reserved for white people only (until 1958). With no construction experience but endless creativity, the pair rally artists and community members to create Book Bunk — a lively hub for learning and culture. As they uncover long-forgotten books and archives, they confront Kenya’s colonial past and ask: How should history be remembered? How can such a space be meaningfully decolonized? With many community interests at play, when should you compromise and when should you stick to your ideals? How to Build a Library shows how one community will stop at nothing to reclaim and reinvent colonial spaces, shaping a future for African youths and families one library book at a time.
A fascinating look at the power of individual action, and a thought-provoking study of colonisation, freedom and representation
Screen Daily
A captivating tale of perseverance in the face of adversities
POV Magazine
Supported by
Kenya
2025
In English and Swahili with English subtitles
Credits & Director
Executive Producer
Roger Ross Williams, Geoff Martz, Judy Kibinge, D.D. Wigley,Maxyne Franklin, Nikki Heyman, Geralyn Dreyfous, Regina K. Scully, Tegan Acton, Emma Pompetti, Melony Lewis, Adam Lewis, Jamie Wolf, Nathalie Seaver
Producer
Maia Lekow, Christopher King
Screenwriter
Christopher King, Maia Lekow, Ricardo Acosta
Cinematography
Christopher King, Wambui Muigai, Emma Nzioka, Ronald Ronics
Editor
Christopher King, Ricardo Acosta, Maia Lekow, Michael Onyiego
Original Music
Katya Mihailova, Maia Lekow, Daniel Hoffknecht
Maia Lekow
Maia Lekow is an award-winning Kenyan director, producer, composer, and musician whose multidisciplinary approach fosters intimate and emotionally resonant storytelling. Working alongside her husband and creative partner Christopher King, the duo tell deeply personal, multilayered stories that explore identity, culture, resilience, and the legacies of colonialism. Her debut feature documentary, The Letter (2019), was Kenya’s official submission to the 93rd Academy Awards, earning international acclaim for its tender and powerful portrait of family, religion, and intergenerational conflict. Her second feature, How to Build a Library, premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Filmography: The Letter (2019)
Christopher King
Christopher King is an award-winning director, editor, cinematographer, and producer originally from Melbourne, Australia, who has called Nairobi, Kenya home since 2007. King co-founded the Nairobi-based production company Circle & Square Productions with his wife and creative partner, Maia Lekow. Together, they craft deeply observational, cinematic documentaries that bridge continents and challenge narratives. Their debut feature, The Letter (2019), was Kenya’s official submission to the 93rd Academy Awards, earning international acclaim for its intimate style. Their second feature, How to Build a Library, premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Filmography: The Letter (2019)