Today In Africa Magazine

Today In Africa Magazine A Magazine that reaches Today's Families for Christ The Arensen family moved to Kijabe in September 1959. The first magazine hit the streets in 1961.

Africa ya Kesho and Today in Africa

Africa Inland Mission felt a need in the late 1950’s for a Christian magazine to be started in order to provide good reading materials for the maturing Africa Inland Church. AIM’s central field council and the Kenya field council decided to start a magazine similar to African Challenge in Nigeria and Our Africa published by Don Smith in South Africa, Ken Downin

g, the head of the central field council, asked Rev. Ed Arensen and his wife Esther to leave their church planting work among the Basukuma in then Tanganyika and head up this new venture. The name Africa ya Kesho was chosen as the title for the first sample magazine, meaning the Africa of tomorrow, it was an appropriate name because of the political situation in 1960 when everyone anticipated a tomorrow when independence would come. Dave Hornberger joined the Arensen family as a layout and art director. The first few issues were translated from English to Swahili by Francis Ivivi, deputy headmaster of the Kijabe teacher training centre. Meanwhile a search was on for a competent Kenyan editor. The missionaries spent one year in earnest prayer asking God to show them the right man for the job. At that time there were very few African Christians with theological training who were fluent in both English and Swahili, the missionary teachers at Ukamba Bible Institute recommended one of their students, John Ndeti Somba, Arensen and Hornberger went to interview Somba. They assured Somba that they felt he was God’s choice and an answer to their prayers. They also told Somba that if he joined the magazine he could serve as a pastor to the whole of East Africa by way of the printed page instead of serving only one local church. Somba joined Africa ya Kesho in December 1961 working as both translator and writer. In 1964 Somba took a six month study leave and took a journalism course at the International Press Institute which was attached the University of Nairobi. Somba was soon promoted to assistant editor before taking over the responsibilities of editor of Africa ya Kesho in 1967. Some other missionaries who worked with the magazine in the early years were Elaine Hornberger and Esther Arensen who did proofreading, Joyce Sauer who worked as the secretary, Phil Lasse who was the staff artist, art Davis, Hal Olsen and others, in the early days the magazine had part time Kenyan writers such as Peter Mwaura, Peter Mbitiru, Jeff Mbure and Grace Mwangi. Many of these early writers were students who were coached by the editorial staff to develop their writing skills. Peter Mwaura wrote articles for the magazine while he was a student at Thika high school before proceeding to Nairobi University. He later earned a master’s degree in the United States. He returned to become the director of the Nairobi school of journalism before becoming the editor of the daily nation newspaper. In 1967 the staff at Africa ya Kesho decided to launch a sister magazine aimed at serving the English-speaking young people coming through the schools. The name of the new magazine was Today In Africa. As john Ndeti Somba moved up to take over the editor of Africa ya Kesho, Ed Arensen took over the role of editor-in-chief as well as editor of Today In Africa. Circulation for the magazine ranged from 10,000 to 20,000 copies per month, though in the late 1970s the magazine changed from being monthly to bi-monthly. In the 1960’s for a period of time Today In Africa Magazine was distributed to primary schools in Kenya free of charge-this was possible because of generous donations from the friends of Today In Africa. Later in the 80’s a similar grant placed magazines in every government sponsored Secondary School in Kenya and a large proportion of Harambee School as well. In 1981 Shel Arensen joined the staff with his wife Kym and took over as editor of Today in Africa magazine. He spent much of his time training new writers and editors. In 1987 John Ndeti Somba retired after 26 years of faithful service (1961-1987). Ed and Esther Arensen retired in 1990 after thirty years of work with the magazines (1960-1990)

Mwaura Njoroge, the writer of the books, ‘Behind the Marriage mask’, ‘The one who cares’, ‘Compelled by Love and many others, took over in 1990 until 1994 when he was promoted to Managing Editor and left in 1999. Njuguna Ngunjiri, the writer of the book, ‘Let my tears flow’ became the editor in 1994 to 1999. Kahura Chege, the writer of the books, ‘Dare kill that child, ‘Hope at Dawn’ and many more became the Editor of Today In Africa from 1999 till December 2008. Edwin Kemboi took over till 2012. The magazine has been off market until October 2014

Patrick Mbuguah Gichini took over from 2014-2018. Tabitha Nene is the current chief editor

Other staff in the past who worked at Today In Africa were Eudia Langa’t, Zipporah Wanjiku, Edith Njeri, Minnie Ndii, Charity Kamau, Joe Mwangi Gatheru, Moitalel Ole Kenta, Joseph Ngigi, and Rebecca Bungei, David Munyere. Before 2007 Today In Africa magazine was printed with a full colour cover but the inside pages were black and white but due to our readers demand the magazine is now printed in full colour. In addition to the magazine, a series of tracts have been printed in various languages over the years. These tracts, handed out through members of the magazine’s Tract club, have reached thousands with a clear presentation of the gospel. In between 1980 and 2011, the magazine office had received letters of over 60,000 people who have responded to an invitation to accept Christ as their savior. Today In Africa has also extended its ministries to include Guesthouse services where we offer a comfortable place to spend the night in Kijabe. We thank God for the opportunity to share the good news to our guests.

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P. O BOX 60 Kijabe
Kijabe
00220

Opening Hours

Monday 08:30 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 17:00

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Africa ya Kesho and Today in Africa HISTORY

Background Information

In the late 1950's, Africa Inland Mission felt the need to have a Christian magazine inorder to provide gospel reading materials for the maturing Africa Inland Church (AIC). AIM's central field council and the Kenya Field Council decided to start a magazine similar to African Challenge in Nigeria and our Africa published by Don Smith in South Africa. Ken Downing, the head of the central field council requested Rev. Ed Arensen and his wife Esther to leave their church planting work among the Basukuma in then Tanganyika and head up this new venture. The first sample of the magazine was given the name 'Africa ya Kesho' meaning The Africa of Tomorrow. It was an appropriate name because of the political situation in 1960 when everyone anticipated a tomorrow when independence would be acquired. The first magazine hit the streets in 1961.

In 1967, the staff at Africa ya Kesho launched a sister magazine aimed at serving the English-speakin young people coming through the schools. The magazine was named 'Today in Africa' which is still operational. Before 2007, Today in Africa magazine was printed with a full colour cover but the inside pages were black and white. Due to our reader's demand, the magazine is now printed in full colour.

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