Autumn in London is one of the most exhilarating seasons for writers and art lovers. This time of year, the city is abuzz with new festivals, exhibitions, and fairs.This season was kicked off by the Black British Book Festival which took place at the Barbican Centre on 4th of October. Founded by Selina Brown, BBBF is a festival that connects book enthusiasts with established and emerging black writers. Key headliners for this year’s event were Candice Carty-Williams, Corinne Bailey-Rae and Wretch 32. These authors discussed their journey to becoming writers, and gave insight to the different cultural influences that they bring into their work.
One of my favorite highlight of the festival was the Giving Flowers: Women Who Built Black Publishing Panel. This panel featured Verna Wilkins (Tamarind Books), Bibi Bakare-Yusuf (Cassava Republic Press) and Jasmine Richards (Jacaranda Books), who also chaired the discussion. These incredible businesswomen highlighted the rollercoaster ride of opening a publishing house in a landscape that often sidelines black storytelling. It was very interesting to listen to each publisher’s motivation. For example, Ms. Wilkins noted the need to show positive portrayals of black children in her books. Through research with teachers Ms. Wilkins tried to understand the “common experiences of all children, like the first day of school, or losing one’s tooth.” Her aim was to bring those experiences into her books so her children and those in her community would feel represented.
For Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, Cassava Republic Press, wanted to establish a publishing house that moved away from the “breezy airport reads” that she often encountered on her travels. She wanted to publish books that had depth and intellect and could be available to a wide range of readers. With over six thousand people attending the Black British Book Festival, it was evident that there is a palpable interest in meaningful literary conversations. These events bring visibility to artists and serve as opportunities to gain greater insight into the different areas of the literary world.
