Bookseller Under Awnings in Kitale Night Market

Low tungsten light spills from a nearby window, illuminating a bookseller standing beside tightly rolled canvas awnings. The dry season air hangs heavy with steam and cooking smoke that drifts lazily through the narrow lane of the Kitale flea market. Wet stone beneath the feet reflects the warm glow, creating scattered pools of amber and orange on the dark ground. Stacks of books rest on wooden crates, their spines catching the dim light. The deep night sky presses down above, against the bustling sensory abundance of the market stalls lining the path. One book lies open on a crate, its pages catching the light.