Books & Rhymes: The Podcast

Episodes

1. 22

   "Mwenkanonkano" | Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (Part 2)

   We 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…

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   Jan 18, 2021

   1 hr 20 min
2. 21

   "Culture Interlocutor" | Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (Part 1)

   What 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...

   Jan 11, 2021

   1 hr 56 min
3. 20

   "Psychogeography" | Caleb Femi

   What 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...

   Nov 9, 2020

   1 hr 36 min
4. 19

   "Bridging the Gap" | Ayesha Harruna Attah

   Award-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…

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   Nov 3, 2020

   2 hr 26 min
5. 18

   "Literary Romance" | Sareeta Domingo

   British-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…

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   Oct 19, 2020

   1 hr 12 min
6. 17

   "Negotiating Sexuality" | Tola Rotimi Abraham

   Do 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...

   Sep 29, 2020

   1 hr 12 min
7. 16

   "Things Fall Together" | Muthoni Muiruri

   What 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...

   Sep 1, 2020

   1 hr 20 min
8. 15

   "Literature Infrastructure" | Ebissé Wakjira Rouw

   Ebissé 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...

   Aug 17, 2020

   1 hr 13 min
9. 14

   "Ask A Caine Prize Judge" | Ebissé Wakjira Rouw

   Ever 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...

   Aug 3, 2020

   48 min
10. 13

    "Resistance to Prescription" | Jowhor Ile

    We 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…

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    Jul 27, 2020

    1 hr 19 min
11. 12

    "Move In Power"| Rémy Ngamije

    Remy 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…

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    Jul 20, 2020

    1 hr 21 min
12. 11

    "Narrative Closure" | Erica Sugo Anyadike

    AKO 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...

    Jul 13, 2020

    1 hr 9 min
13. 10

    "Confronting Erasure" | Chike Frankie Edozien (Part 2)

    In 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...

    Oct 7, 2019

    1 hr 8 min
14. 9

    "Confronting Erasure" | Chike Frankie Edozien (Part 1)

    Journalist 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…

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    Sep 30, 2019

    1 hr 2 min
15. 8

    "In Search of History" | Novuyo Rosa Tshuma

    Novuyo 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,...

    Sep 10, 2019

    1 hr 24 min
16. 7

    "Postcolonial Trauma" | Jumoke Verissimo

    Celebrated 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...

    Sep 9, 2019

    1 hr 5 min
17. 6

    "When Writing Begin to Sing" | Sarah Ladipo Manyika

    In 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...

    Aug 14, 2019

    1 hr 2 min
18. 5

    "Do What You Gotta Do" | LIVE with 2019 Caine Prize Shortlisted Writers

    A 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’…

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    Jul 8, 2019

    1 hr 36 min
19. 4

    "Dark Angel" | Oyinkan Braithwaite

    This 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…

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    May 27, 2019

    1 hr 29 min
20. 3

    "See(ing) Yourself in Literature" | Saraiya Bah

    Saraiya 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...

    May 15, 2019

    1 hr 9 min
21. 2

    "Emotional Landscape" | Namwali Serpell

    Namwali 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...

    May 6, 2019

    1 hr 9 min
22. 1

    Introducing Books & Rhymes: The Podcast

    Join Sarah Ozo-Irabor as she takes you on a musical journey through the works of new and classic authors. W invite creatives, thinkers, and writers to use the medium of music to discuss the overall impact of books on their sense of self, identity, and belonging. An extended playlist of songs...

    Apr 24, 2019

    4 min