Books & Rhymes: The Podcast
52 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsTurn on, tune in, and don’t cop out of this podcast that takes you on a musical journey through the works of new and classic authors. Host, Sarah Ozo-Irabor chats with notable writers and literary tastemakers on their work and the music that has shaped their craft, literary journey, and overall sense of self. An accompanying playlist of curated songs is available in each episode description.
Find and follow us: @Booksandrhymes on Twitter and Instagram.
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Books & Rhymes: The Podcast is created, produced, and hosted by Sarah Ozo-Irabor
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Episodes
"Mwenkanonkano" | Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (Part 2)
January 18, 2021 14:13 - 1 hour - 148 MBWe conclude our conversation with renowned Ugandan author, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi in which she reflects on migrant narratives in her collection of short stories, Manchester Happened (published in the USA as Let’s Tell This Story Properly), we explore the ways in which Sweet Mother by Nico Mbaga contribute to conversations on the treatment of indigenous Ugandan feminism in relation to western feminism in the novel, The First Woman (published in the USA as A Girl Is A Body of Water), and w...
Mwenkanonkano: The First Woman with Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
January 18, 2021 14:13 - 1 hour - 148 MBWe conclude our conversation with Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi by using Labi Siffre’s song, Something Inside So Strong to unpick the migrant narratives in her collection of short stories, Manchester Happened (published in the USA as Let’s Tell This Story Properly), we explore the ways in which Sweet Mother by Nico Mbaga contribute to conversations on the treatment of indigenous Ugandan feminism in relation to western feminism in the novel, The First Woman (published in the USA as A Girl Is A B...
"Culture Interlocutor" | Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (Part 1)
January 11, 2021 08:50 - 1 hour - 214 MBWhat power do editors have in steering a writer’s career? What are the real value of winning literary prizes such as the Kwani! manuscript project? What challenges do African writers encounter when attempting to publish literary fiction that exclude the white gaze? Our guest Jennifer Nansubuga Mamukbi, award winning author whose novels include Kintu (pronounced ChinTu), The First Woman (published as A Girl Is A Body of Water in the USA), and the short Story collection, Manchester Happene...
Culture Interlocutor: Kintu with Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
January 11, 2021 08:50 - 1 hour - 214 MBWhat power do editors have in steering a writer’s career? What are the real value of winning literary prizes such as the Kwani! manuscript project? What challenges do African writers encounter when attempting to publish literary fiction that exclude the white gaze? Our guest Jennifer Nansubuga Mamukbi, award winning author whose novels include Kintu (pronounced ChinTu), The First Woman (published as A Girl Is A Body of Water in the USA), and the short Story collection, Manchester Happene...
Psychogeography: Poor with Caleb Femi
November 09, 2020 23:42 - 1 hour - 176 MBWhat is psychogeography? How does architecture affect our emotional, mental, and psychological wellbeing? Caleb Femi, a poet, educator, and multidisciplinary artist whose debut collection of poetry, Poor, celebrate and interrogate youth culture and masculinity, while the articulating the complex lived experiences of working class migrant communities in the UK join us in conversation. We use the music of Burna Boy, J-Hus, Wizkid, Giggs, Sunny Ade, and more to explore the problematic relations...
"Psychogeography" | Caleb Femi
November 09, 2020 23:42 - 1 hour - 176 MBWhat is psychogeography? How does architecture affect our emotional, mental, and psychological wellbeing? Caleb Femi, a poet, educator, and multidisciplinary artist whose debut collection of poetry, Poor, celebrate and interrogate youth culture and masculinity, while the articulating the complex lived experiences of working class migrant communities in the UK join us in conversation. We use the music of Burna Boy, J-Hus, Wizkid, Giggs, Sunny Ade, and more to explore the problematic relations...
"Bridging the Gap" | Ayesha Harruna Attah
November 03, 2020 00:13 - 2 hours - 268 MBAward-winning author, Ghanaian author, Ayesha Harruna Attah takes us on a sonic journey using the the music of Mayra Andrade, Les Nubian, Sampa The Great, Nina Simone, Salif Keita and so much more to discuss the phenomena of being ‘possessed’ by a character, the perceived intuitive freedom that MFA courses offer writers, the realities of accessing the world of poublishing as an African writer living on the continent, and the joys of working closely with Ayi Kwei Armah in discovering and tran...
Bridging the Gap: The Deep Blue Between With Ayesha Harruna Attah
November 03, 2020 00:13 - 2 hours - 268 MBWhat do writers mean when they say they are ‘possessed’ by a character or a story? How much intuitive freedom does MFA courses offer writers, and hwat is it like to discover and translate a 3000 year old Hieroglyphic Egyptian love story? We discuss these and more with writer and researcher, Ayesha Harruna Attah, author of four books including the recently published novel, The Deep Blue Between -- a multi-directional migration story of a displaced set of twins in 1800s Ghana, and its predeces...
Literary Romance: If I Don't Have You with Sareeta Domingo
October 19, 2020 15:46 - 1 hour - 133 MBWe explore why romance genre is generally disregarded or overlooked by literary critics, the privileges of being published by a small independent press, and so much more with Sareeta Domingo, an accomplished author whose third novel, If I Don’t Have You, a love story between a Black British journalist and an Afro-Brazilian film-maker is published as part Jacaranda Books and Arts #Twentyin2020 project. We use the music of ESKA, Prince, Erykah Badu, Neneh Cherry and more to discuss her non...
"Literary Romance" | Sareeta Domingo
October 19, 2020 15:46 - 1 hour - 133 MBBritish-Caribbean author, Sareeta Domingo use the music of ESKA, Prince, Erykah Badu, Neneh Cherry and more to unpick her third novel, If I Don't Have You, we explore her non-traditional route to publishing, crafting & writing romance stories as an act of resistance, her mission to write ambitious Black women with care. We also discuss the merits of being published by either independent or one of the larger publishing houses. If I Don't Have You, is published as part Jacaranda Books and Arts...
"Negotiating Sexuality" | Tola Rotimi Abraham
September 29, 2020 00:25 - 1 hour - 132 MBDo writers of African descent have the freedom to write whimsical and quirky stories? How can readers support the works of under-discussed writers during COVID-19 global pandemic? We discuss these topics and more with Tola Rotimi Abraham, whose debut novel, Black Sunday (a coming of age novel set in Lagos, Nigeria, which tells the story of a fractured family coming to terms with an unexpected loss) has been shortlisted for the 2020 Kirkus Prize for Fiction. We use the music of Adekunle G...
Negotiating Sexuality: Black Sunday with Tola Rotimi Abraham
September 29, 2020 00:25 - 1 hour - 132 MBDo writers of African descent have the freedom to write whimsical and quirky stories? How can readers support the works of under-discussed writers during COVID-19 global pandemic? We discuss these topics and more with Tola Rotimi Abraham, whose debut novel, Black Sunday (a coming of age novel set in Lagos, Nigeria, which tells the story of a fractured family coming to terms with an unexpected loss) has been shortlisted for the 2020 Kirkus Prize for Fiction. We use the music of Adekunle G...
"Things Fall Together" | Muthoni Muiruri
September 01, 2020 19:52 - 1 hour - 147 MBWhat is Bookstagram and how is it shaping readers' engagement with books? What are the strategies for maintaining a healthy reading habit amidst COVID-19 pandemic? Is the term ‘African literature’ a form of self othering? We discuss these and more in today's episode with Muthoni Muiruri, a Kenyan researcher and literary activist. Muthoni is the founder SomaNami.co.ke, a blog where she promotes and reviews books by Continental and diaspora African writers. She is the co-founder of The Afr...
Let Us Speak for ourselves: Things Fall Together with Muthoni Muiruri
September 01, 2020 19:52 - 1 hour - 147 MBWhat is Bookstagram and how is it shaping readers' engagement with books? What are the strategies for maintaining a healthy reading habit amidst COVID-19 pandemic? Is the term ‘African literature’ a form of self othering? We discuss these and more in today's episode with Muthoni Muiruri, a Kenyan researcher and literary activist. Muthoni is the founder SomaNami.co.ke, a blog where she promotes and reviews books by Continental and diaspora African writers. She is the co-founder of The Afr...
"Literature Infrastructure" | Ebissé Wakjira Rouw
August 17, 2020 20:51 - 1 hour - 135 MBEbissé Wakjira Rouw, co-founder of the Dutch multimedia powerhouse, Dipsaus (Dipsaus.org) joins us in conversation by using the music of Luther Vandross, Nas, Lil Wayne, City Girls and Mahmoud Ahmed to discuss publishing while Black in the Netherlands and Europe, navigating work-life balance in light of COVID-19, translating writings by Continental and Diaspora African writers and more. We also discuss recent and forthcoming Dipsaus publications such as: the Dutch translation of Audre Lorde...
Literature Infrastructure: Goede Immigrant with Ebissé Wakjira Rouw
August 17, 2020 20:51 - 1 hour - 135 MBEbissé Wakjira Rouw, co-founder of the Dutch multimedia powerhouse, Dipsaus (Dipsaus.org) join us in conversation about the Dutch publishing landscape. We use music by Luther Vandross, Nas, Lil Wayne, City Girls and Mahmoud Ahmed to discuss publishing while Black in the Netherlands and Europe, navigating work-life balance in light of COVID-19, translating writings by Continental and Diaspora African writers and more. We also discuss recent and forthcoming Dipsaus publications such as: the D...
Literature Infrastructure: De Goede Immigrant with Ebissé Wakjira Rouw
August 17, 2020 20:51 - 1 hour - 135 MBEbissé Wakjira Rouw, co-founder of the Dutch multimedia powerhouse, Dipsaus (Dipsaus.org) joins us in conversation by using the music of Luther Vandross, Nas, Lil Wayne, City Girls and Mahmoud Ahmed to discuss publishing while Black in the Netherlands and Europe, navigating work-life balance in light of COVID-19, translating writings by Continental and Diaspora African writers and more. We also discuss recent and forthcoming Dipsaus publications such as: the Dutch translation of Audre Lorde...
Ask A Caine Prize Judge with Ebissé Wakjira Rouw
August 03, 2020 22:36 - 48 minutes - 89.3 MBEver wondered what goes on in the judging panels of literary prizes? We speak to Ebissé Wakjira Rouw, an Ethiopian-Dutch literary editor, publisher, co-founder of Dipsaus – a multi-media organisation that specialises in amplifying the voices and lived experiences of Black and People of Colour in the Netherlands. Ebissé was also a judge for the 2020 AKO Caine Prize for African Writing. In the first of our two-part conversation, we use the music of Destiny’s Child, Luniz & Jodeci to discuss t...
"Ask A Caine Prize Judge" | Ebissé Wakjira Rouw
August 03, 2020 22:36 - 48 minutes - 89.3 MBEver wondered what goes on in the judging panels of literary prizes? We speak to Ebissé Wakjira Rouw, an Ethiopian-Dutch literary editor, publisher, co-founder of Dipsaus – a multi-media organisation that specialises in amplifying the voices and lived experiences of Black and People of Colour in the Netherlands. Ebissé was also a judge for the 2020 AKO Caine Prize for African Writing. In the first of our two-part conversation, we use the music of Destiny’s Child, Luniz & Jodeci to discuss t...
Resistance to Prescription with Jowhor Ile (AKO Caine Prize)
July 27, 2020 12:07 - 1 hour - 146 MBWe conclude our one-to-one conversation with the shortlisted writers for the 2020 AKO Caine Prize for African Writing. Today’s guest is Jowhor Ile, a Nigerian writer, author of the novel And After Many Days and visiting professor at West Virginia university whose story, Fisherman Stew is vying for the £10,000 prize. We use the music of Fela Kuti, Sade, Lauryn Hill, Nina Simone, Onyeka Owenu, Cardinal Rex Lawson and more as selected by Jowhor to discuss food as an expression of love in his s...
"Resistance to Prescription" | Jowhor Ile
July 27, 2020 12:07 - 1 hour - 146 MBWe conclude our one-to-one conversation with the shortlisted writers for the 2020 AKO Caine Prize for African Writing. Today’s guest is Jowhor Ile, a Nigerian writer, author of the novel And After Many Days and visiting professor at West Virginia university whose story, Fisherman Stew is vying for the £10,000 prize. We use the music of Fela Kuti, Sade, Lauryn Hill, Nina Simone, Onyeka Owenu, Cardinal Rex Lawson and more as selected by Jowhor to discuss food as an expression of love in his s...
Move In Power with Rémy Ngamije (AKO Caine Prize, 2020)
July 20, 2020 17:35 - 1 hour - 149 MBThe Neighbourhood Watch is a narrative of five disenfranchised people on their quest for survival on the margins of society. We use the music of Hugh Masekela, Salif Keita, Yemi Alade, Lady Smith Black Mambazo - as selected by Rémy to unpack the intricacies of the story. We address poor representations of female characters in fiction written by men, while Rémy opens up about the triumphs and challenges of spearheading DoekLitMag.com, a literary journal expanding the reach of Namibian literat...
"Move In Power"| Rémy Ngamije
July 20, 2020 17:35 - 1 hour - 149 MBRemy Ngamije's Short story, The Neighbourhood Watch, a narrative of five disenfranchised people on their quest for survival on the margins of society has been shortlisted for the 2022 AKO Caine Prize. We use the music of Hugh Masekela, Salif Keita, Yemi Alade, Lady Smith Black Mambazo - as selected by Rémy to unpack the intricacies of the story. We address poor representations of female characters in fiction written by men, while Rémy opens up about the triumphs and challenges of spearheadi...
Resisting Narrative Closure with Erica Sugo Anyadike (Caine Prize)
July 13, 2020 18:08 - 1 hour - 128 MBErica Sugo Anyadike, the Tanzanian multi-hyphenated creative powerhouse discuss her subversive story, How To Marry an African President which is currently shortlisted for AKO Caine Prize for African Writing. We use selected music curated by Erica to unpack among other things, depictions of female partners of powerful men, writing for a specific audience and writing against the singular African narrative. We discuss the process of writing the How To Marry An African President, and what it me...
"Narrative Closure" | Erica Sugo Anyadike
July 13, 2020 18:08 - 1 hour - 128 MBAKO Caine Prize for African Writing shortlisted writer, Erica Sugo Anyadike, the Tanzanian multi-hyphenated creative powerhouse discuss her subversive story, How To Marry an African President. We use selected music curated by Erica to unpack among other things, depictions of female partners of powerful men, Black women with care, and writing against the singular African narrative. We discuss the process of writing the How To Marry An African President, and what it means to truly demystify t...
Narrative Closure with Erica Sugo Anyadike (AKO Caine Prize, 2020)
July 13, 2020 18:08 - 1 hour - 128 MBAKO Caine Prize for African Writing shortlisted writer, Erica Sugo Anyadike, the Tanzanian multi-hyphenated creative powerhouse discuss her subversive story, How To Marry an African President. We use selected music curated by Erica to unpack among other things, depictions of female partners of powerful men, Black women with care, and writing against the singular African narrative. We discuss the process of writing the How To Marry An African President, and what it means to truly demystify t...
Resisting Narrative Closure with Erica Sugo Anyadike (AKO Caine Prize, 2020)
July 13, 2020 18:08 - 1 hour - 128 MBAKO Caine Prize for African Writing shortlisted writer, Erica Sugo Anyadike, the Tanzanian multi-hyphenated creative powerhouse discuss her subversive story, How To Marry an African President with Sarah Ozo-Irabor. We use selected music curated by Erica to unpack among other things, depictions of female partners of powerful men, Black women with care, and writing against the singular African narrative. We discuss the process of writing the How To Marry An African President, and what it mean...
"Confronting Erasure" | Chike Frankie Edozien (Part 2)
October 07, 2019 19:46 - 1 hour - 125 MBIn the concluding conversation on his memoir, Lives of Great Men, Chike Frankie Edozien offers greater depth into his career as a journalist in the United States of America (USA). We use a specially curated soundtrack as a musical backdrop to discuss Edozien's experience as one of few African Journalists who covered the highly publicised case against the New York police department for the racial profiling and murder of Guinean student, Amadou Diallo. Edozien elaborates on the importance of p...
Confronting Erasure (Part Two): Lives of Great Men with Chike Frankie Edozien
October 07, 2019 19:46 - 1 hour - 125 MBIn the concluding conversation on his memoir, Lives of Great Men, Chike Frankie Edozien offers greater depth into his career as a journalist in the United States of America (USA). We use a specially curated soundtrack as a musical backdrop to discuss Edozien's experience as one of few African Journalists who covered the highly publicised case against the New York police department for the racial profiling and murder of Guinean student, Amadou Diallo. Edozien elaborates on the importance of p...
"Confronting Erasure" | Chike Frankie Edozien (Part 1)
September 30, 2019 19:45 - 1 hour - 114 MBJournalist and Lambda award winning author, Chike Frankie Edozien, offers an intimate portrait of his life in his memoir, Lives of Great Men: Living and Loving as an African Gay Man. We begin the discussion with Edozien’s reaction to the attention the memoir has garnered (including winning the 2018 Lambda literary award), after which we reflect on the importance of being reviewed critically by astute readers, coming of age as same gender loving young man in Nigeria, the criminalisation of ho...
Confronting Erasure (Part One): Lives of Great Men with Chike Frankie Edozien
September 30, 2019 19:45 - 1 hour - 114 MBJournalist and Lambda award winning author, Chike Frankie Edozien, offers an intimate portrait of his life in his memoir, Lives of Great Men: Living and Loving as an African Gay Man. We begin the discussion with Edozien’s reaction to the attention the memoir has garnered (including winning the 2018 Lambda literary award), after which we reflect on the importance of being reviewed critically by astute readers, coming of age as same gender loving young man in Nigeria, the criminalisation of ho...
"In Search of History" | Novuyo Rosa Tshuma
September 10, 2019 00:44 - 1 hour - 154 MBNovuyo Rosa Tshuma provides deeper context to her critically acclaimed novel, House of Stone – a sophisticated, philosophical and darkly humorous (re)telling of Zimbabwe’s history. We explore writing for a specific audience, censorship in Zimbabwean publishing landscape, weaponisation of history, the importance of documenting Gukurahundi massacre in fiction, understanding the ‘Born Free’ generation and so much more. Books mentioned in this episode (widely available for purchase online an...
In Search of History: House of Stone with Novuyo Rosa Tshuma
September 10, 2019 00:44 - 1 hour - 154 MBNovuyo Rosa Tshuma provides deeper context to her critically acclaimed novel, House of Stone – a sophisticated, philosophical and darkly humorous (re)telling of Zimbabwe’s history. We explore writing for a specific audience, censorship in Zimbabwean publishing landscape, weaponisation of history, the importance of documenting Gukurahundi massacre in fiction, understanding the ‘Born Free’ generation and so much more. Books mentioned in this episode (widely available for purchase online an...
Postcolonial Trauma: A Small Silence with Jumoke Verissimo
September 09, 2019 23:05 - 1 hour - 120 MBCelebrated writer and poet, Jumoke Verrisimo, discuss the complexities of fictionalising personal pain in fiction, idealisation of mothers in Yoruba culture, the infliction of emotional traumas on loved ones as coping strategy for much deeper unarticulated psychological distress, and her debut novel, A Small Silence - a quietly disturbing coded novel that humanises historically underserved communities in fiction while inviting the reader to explore the psycho-social implication of loneliness...
"Postcolonial Trauma" | Jumoke Verissimo
September 09, 2019 23:05 - 1 hour - 120 MBCelebrated writer and poet, Jumoke Verrisimo, discuss the complexities of fictionalising personal pain in fiction, idealisation of mothers in Yoruba culture, the infliction of emotional traumas on loved ones as coping strategy for much deeper unarticulated psychological distress, and her debut novel, A Small Silence - a quietly disturbing coded novel that humanises historically underserved communities in fiction while inviting the reader to explore the psycho-social implication of loneliness...
"When Writing Begin to Sing" | Sarah Ladipo Manyika
August 14, 2019 08:07 - 1 hour - 114 MBIn celebration of its 10th anniversary launch, Sarah Ladipo Manyika takes us through the musical landscape of her novel, In Dependence, a sweeping love story spanning four decades, steeped in pan-African post colonial politics. We use the playlist curated by Sarah Ladipo Manyika to unpack the reasoning, research and writing process behind the novel, In Dependence. We explore the import of musicians such as Hugh Masekela, Nina Simone, Bob Marley, and many more in bringing literary narratives ...
When Writing Begin to Sing: In dependence with Sarah Ladipo Manyika
August 14, 2019 08:07 - 1 hour - 114 MBIn celebration of its 10th anniversary launch, Sarah Ladipo Manyika takes us through the musical landscape of her novel, In Dependence, a sweeping love story spanning four decades, steeped in pan-African post colonial politics. We use the playlist curated by Sarah Ladipo Manyika to unpack the reasoning, research and writing process behind the novel, In Dependence. We explore the import of musicians such as Hugh Masekela, Nina Simone, Bob Marley, and many more in bringing literary narratives ...
"Do What You Gotta Do" | LIVE with 2019 Caine Prize Shortlisted Writers
July 08, 2019 17:05 - 1 hour - 132 MBA special live episode recording with the shortlisted writers for the Caine Prize for African Writing, 2019: Lesley Nneka Arimah (Nigeria) ‘Skinned’, Meron Hadero (Ethiopia) ‘The Wall’, Cherrie Kandie (Kenya) for ‘Sew My Mouth’ Ngwah-Mbo Nana Nkweti (Cameroon) for ‘It Takes A Village Some Say’, and Tochukwu Emmanuel Okafor (Nigeria) for ‘All Our Lives’; in partnership with the Caine Prize. The stories can be read in written and audio formats here: http://caineprize.com/the-shortlist-2019...
Do What You Gotta Do: Caine Prize for African Writing
July 08, 2019 17:05 - 1 hour - 132 MBA special live episode recording with the shortlisted writers for the Caine Prize for African Writing, 2019: Lesley Nneka Arimah (Nigeria) ‘Skinned’, Meron Hadero (Ethiopia) ‘The Wall’, Cherrie Kandie (Kenya) for ‘Sew My Mouth’ Ngwah-Mbo Nana Nkweti (Cameroon) for ‘It Takes A Village Some Say’, and Tochukwu Emmanuel Okafor (Nigeria) for ‘All Our Lives’; in partnership with the Caine Prize. The stories can be read in written and audio formats here: http://caineprize.com/the-shortlist-2019...
Do What You Gotta Do: Caine Prize for African Writing
July 08, 2019 17:05 - 1 hour - 132 MBA special live episode recording with the shortlisted writers for the Caine Prize for African Writing, 2019: Lesley Nneka Arimah (Nigeria) ‘Skinned’, Meron Hadero (Ethiopia) ‘The Wall’, Cherrie Kandie (Kenya) for ‘Sew My Mouth’ Ngwah-Mbo Nana Nkweti (Cameroon) for ‘It Takes A Village Some Say’, and Tochukwu Emmanuel Okafor (Nigeria) for ‘All Our Lives’; in partnership with the Caine Prize. The stories can be read in written and audio formats here: http://caineprize.com/the-shortlist-2019...
"Dark Angel" | Oyinkan Braithwaite
May 27, 2019 23:00 - 1 hourThis week’s guest is Oyinkan Braithwaite, author of My Sister The Serial Killer, the critically acclaimed debut novel recently shortlisted for the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction. We discuss her strategies for coping with criticisms, the importance of being grounded in faith, and the eccentricities of Nigerian humour which underpins the novel. In the second half, Oyinkan takes us on a musical journey through several books including Jane Eyre, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and why she ...
Dark Angel: My Sister The Serial Killer with Oyinkan Braithwaite
May 27, 2019 23:00 - 1 hourThis week’s guest is Oyinkan Braithwaite, author of My Sister The Serial Killer, the critically acclaimed debut novel recently shortlisted for the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction. We discuss her strategies for coping with criticisms, the importance of being grounded in faith, and the eccentricities of Nigerian humour which underpins the novel. In the second half, Oyinkan takes us on a musical journey through several books including Jane Eyre, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and why she ...
A Society Within: Seeing Yourself in Literature with Saraiya Bah
May 15, 2019 04:30 - 1 hour - 95.4 MBI am joined by Saraiya Bah, a British poet and cultural producer of Sierra Leonian descent, whose work draws on the West African tradition of storytelling. In our discussion, Saraiya draws connections between Malcom X & Nas, Erykah Badu’s music & teenagers in inner city London, and Saraiya situates Lauryn Hill’s work in Mariama Ba’s iconic nove, So Long a letter. Saraiya Bah is an entire mood! Her honest engagement with literature is inspiring. Listen to her poetry and find out more about h...
Seeing Yourself in Literature: A Society Within with Saraiya Bah
May 15, 2019 04:30 - 1 hour - 95.4 MBSaraiya Bah, a British poet and cultural producer of Sierra Leonian descent situates Lauryn Hill’s work in Mariama Ba’s iconic novel, So Long a letter. Sarauya also draws connections between The Autobiograohy os Malcom X & Nas Illmatic Akbum, Erykah Badu’s music & teenagers in inner city London as depicted in Courtia Newland's YA Novel, A Society Within. Listen to Saraiya Bah's poetry and find out more about her work on her website: saraiyabah.co.uk. Liaten to an extended playlist of Sara...
A Society Within: 'Seeing' Yourself in Literature with Saraiya Bah
May 15, 2019 04:30 - 1 hour - 95.4 MBI am joined by Saraiya Bah, a British poet and cultural producer of Sierra Leonian descent, whose work draws on the West African tradition of storytelling. In our discussion, Saraiya draws connections between Malcom X & Nas, Erykah Badu’s music & teenagers in inner city London, and Saraiya situates Lauryn Hill’s work in Mariama Ba’s iconic nove, So Long a letter. Saraiya Bah is an entire mood! Her honest engagement with literature is inspiring. Listen to her poetry and find out more about h...
"See(ing) Yourself in Literature" | Saraiya Bah
May 15, 2019 04:30 - 1 hour - 95.4 MBSaraiya Bah, a British poet and cultural producer of Sierra Leonian descent situates Lauryn Hill’s work in Mariama Ba’s iconic novel, So Long a letter. Saraiya also draws connections between The Autobiograohy of Malcom X & Nas Illmatic Akbum, Erykah Badu’s music & the experiences of teenagers in inner London as depicted in Courtia Newland's YA Novel, 'A Society Within'. Listen to Saraiya Bah's poetry and find out more about her work on her website: saraiyabah.co.uk. Liaten to an extended p...
Emotional Landscape: ‘The Old Drift’ with Namwali Serpell
May 06, 2019 06:30 - 1 hour - 95.6 MBThis episode is an absolute treat as Namwali Serpell, author of the critically acclaimed debut novel, ‘The Old Drift’, takes us on a musical journey through the 20 year period of writing the novel, the problematic nature of literary prizes, the strangeness of reality, and the historical meaning of the phrase 'Muzungu'. We also discuss the connections between 'The Old Drift' to Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, Bjork, Tracy Chapman, Larry Maluma and Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makimbi. Namwali S...
Emotional Landscape with Namwali Serpell
May 06, 2019 06:30 - 1 hour - 95.6 MBNamwali Serpell, author of the critically acclaimed debut novel, ‘The Old Drift’, takes us on a musical journey through the 20 year period of writing the novel, the problematic nature of literary prizes, the strangeness of reality, and the historical meaning of the phrase 'Muzungu'. We also discuss the connections between 'The Old Drift' and Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, Bjork, Tracy Chapman, Larry Maluma and Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makimbi. Namwali Serpell has curated a special playlis...
"Emotional Landscape" | Namwali Serpell
May 06, 2019 06:30 - 1 hour - 95.6 MBNamwali Serpell takes us on a musical journey through the 20 year period of writing her critically acclaimed debut novel, The Old Drift. We use the music of Bjork, Tracy Chapman, PJ Harvey, and Larry Maluma to discuss the problematic nature of literary prizes, Namwali's unprecedented response to winning the 2015 Caine Prize for African Writing, the strangeness of reality in her fictional writing, and the etymology the term 'muzungu'. We also unpack the connection between 'The Old Drift' and ...
Emotional Landscape: The Old Drift with Namwali Serpell
May 06, 2019 06:30 - 1 hour - 95.6 MBNamwali Serpell takes us on a musical journey through the 20 year period of writing her critically acclaimed debut novel, The Old Drift. We discuss the problematic nature of literary prizes, her unprecedented response to winning the 2015 Caine Prize for African Writing, the strangeness of reality compared fiction, and the etymology the term 'muzungu'. We use the music of Bjork, Tracy Chapman, Larry Maluma and more to unpack the connection between 'The Old Drift' novels like Cloud Atlas by Da...