This week we’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes from 2021. This episode first aired on October 18th.

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests of the past 18 months, black writers have risen to the top of bestseller lists in both fiction and non-fiction. This prompted the publishing industry, as elsewhere, to take into account how much talent was being overlooked and how they could diversify their offering. For years, the works of black authors have often been absent from the grand prix lists and the book festival circuit.

Join Nosheen Iqbal to discuss the rich history of black literature, three acclaimed authors: Ben Okri, Candice Carty-Williams and Caleb Azumah Nelson.

They discuss how they learned about literature from an exclusively white curriculum growing up and their different paths to becoming successful writers, as well as the future of black writing and the controversies surrounding it. can tell stories about black experiences. Finally, they give us their recommended picks for your next big read.

All the books mentioned in this podcast:

Ben Okri – Every leaf a hallelujah

Candice-Carty Williams – Empress and Aniya

Caleb Azumah-Nelson – Open Water

Ben Okri – The Hungry Road

Candice Carty-Williams – Queenie

Chinua Achebe – Things are falling apart

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o – Don’t cry, child

Buchi Emecheta – Second Class Citizen

Malorie Blackman – Noughts and Cross

Margaret Busby – Girls of Africa

Kayo Chingonyi – A Blood Disease

Kayo Chinognyi – Kumukanda

Raymond Antrobus – All names given

Vanessa Onwuemezi – Dark Quarter

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