The Litro Literary Weekender 25Th to 28Th M Ay 2017

THE LITRO LITERARY WEEKENDER 25TH TO 28TH M AY 2017

Patrice Lawrence Nana Ocran Theresa Lola Victoria Adukwei Bulley Nana Ayebia Clarke MBE Gabriel Gbadamosi Zoe Adjonyoh Margaret Busby OBE Ekow Eshun Yinka Shonibare MBE Inua Ellams Poetra Asantewa Ayobami Adebayo Caleb Femi Siana Bangura Frances Mensah Williams Griot Chinyere

Cover art | Ruby Amanze

litro.co.uk INTRO

Every year, Litro Magazine publishes international editions focus- ing on different parts of the globe. In 2016, we had an issue dedi- cated to Cuba, and one highlighting South Asian writing in English; we featured young voices like Aatish Taseer alongside more established writers and artists like Shehan Karunatilaka and Coco Fusco.

As 2017 marks sixty years since Ghana achieved independence, our latest World Series instalment, Literary Highlife, celebrates the country’s birthday with our first weekend festival. Our title comes from ‘highlife’, a kind of popular music born in Ghana early in the twentieth century that blended traditional Akan musical rhythms with European military band instruments imported under colonial- ism. It spread, and still influences current Ghanaian and Nigerian afrobeats, as well as other forms of music, today.

We also invite Ghana’s neighbour Nigeria to join in the celebra- tion, and dedicate this weekend to the rich cultural and literary landscapes of both countries. We have three days of music, poetry, spoken-word sessions and more, including a free writers’ workshop with Patrice Lawrence, author of Orangeboy, the winner of the 2017 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Older Children. I hope you will enjoy this mix of free and ticketed events taking place in St James’s Square and the Piccadilly and Tottenham Court Road branches of Waterstones.

Other highlights of this highlife include an exploration of West Af- rican cuisine with Zoe Adjonyoh, of Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen (we just might finally get a final answer on which country makes the best Jollof Rice!); a tour of the literatures of the cities of Accra and La- gos with Nana Ayebia Clarke in conversation with Gabriel Gbad- amosi; and Turner Prize winner Yinka Shonibare will join broadcaster Ekow Eshu to discuss ‘art and identity’.

That’s not to forget our poetry hours, and Litro women’s hour with Siana Bangura & guests as well as the Rhythm and Poetry Par- ty, with Inua Ellams and guests including Theresa Lola, Victoria Adukwei Bulley, Charles Obiri-Yeboah, Dzifa Benson, and Young People’s Laureate for London Caleb Femi; though it all kicks off with storytelling in the square, @ St James’s Square, 25th May at 12.30pm. It should all make for a fun, exciting and inspiring weekend.

Eric Akoto BIO’S BIO’S Born in London and raised in Nigeria, Yinka Shonibare MBE employs a diverse range of media – from sculpture, painting and installation to photography and film – to probe matters of race, class, cultural identity and history. He is perhaps best known for his signature use of a col- ourful “African” batik fabric that actually originated in Indonesia and was introduced to Africa in the 19th century by British and Dutch colonisers.

Ato Quayson is University Professor and Director of the Centre for Diaspora and Transnational Studies at the University of Toronto. He was educated at the Univer- sity of Ghana and at Cambridge. His most recent book is Oxford Street, Accra: City Life and the Itineraries of Transnationalism.

Zoe Adjonyoh is a writer and cook from South- East London. Her pop-up restaurant and supper club has been making waves in the foodie scene - both in London and Berlin - bringing traditional and contemporary Ghanaian food to an audience outside of the Ghanaian community. Zoe appears at streetfood markets, pop-ups and festivals across Europe, as well as providing cookery classes and being an established event caterer. BIO’S ------Guard , has been , the , the , will be adapt , was shortlisted , was Observer Stay with Me amongst others. Her de amongst others. Animal Parts , won a Betty Trask Award. Her Award. a Betty, won Trask Speak Gigantular holds BA and MA degrees in Lit BA and MA degrees holds is a writer and Arts Project Manager. Manager. Artsand a writer is Project Huffington Post Huffington is a Ghanaian-British writer, journalist, journalist, writer, is a Ghanaian-British Butterfly Fish , the BBC, the BBC, the , the Ekow Eshun Ekow magazine. period. He is a contributor to BBC2’s Friday night arts to BBC2’s period. He is a contributor the of editor-in-chief the Review, Newsnight programme and a former editor of Arena Tank quarterly magazine and broadcaster. Until November 2010 he was the ar the was he 2010 Until November and broadcaster. of Contemporary Institute Arts the of in director tistic notice six-month his of end the before leaving London, shortlisted for the Baileys prize. Baileys shortlisted for the an MA in creative writing from the University of East An University the writing from an MA in creative an international bursary for awarded was she glia where writing. Her debut novel, creative Ayobami Adebayo Ayobami also has She University. Obafemi Awolowo from erature

and director Julia Pascal. Julia Pascal. and director but novel, but novel, short story collection, Her story, Jhalak Prize. for the Bafta-winning stage by ed for the documentary maker Irenosen Okojie Irenosen the by has been published Her work ian Margaret Busby OBE (also titled Nana Akua Ackon) is a Ghanaian-born publisher, editor, writer and broadcaster based in the UK. She was Britain’s youngest and first black woman book publisher when in the 1960s she co-founded with Clive Allison the London-based publishing house Allison and Busby.

Gabriel Gbadamosi is a poet, playwright, and novelist of Irish-Nigerian descent. He grew up in Vauxhall, London and studied English at Cam- bridge University. BIO’S

Nana Ayebia Clarke MBE is a Ghanaian-born publisher, she was Submissions Editor of the highly acclaimed Heinemann African and Caribbean Writers Series for 12 years where she published and promoted prominent writers and Nobel Prize winning authors. She founded Ayebia Clarke Pub- lishing Limited with her husband David in 2003. Becky Nana Ayebia Clarke was awarded an Hon- orary MBE in 2011 for services to the British publishing industry. BIO’S ------is a writer, poet, performer and so is a writer, A London-based writer and lecturer, lecturer, writer and A London-based nist platform, No Fly on the WALL. nist platform, No Fly on the ropean Journal, Ladybeard, and Buzzfeed. Siana is al and Buzzfeed. Ladybeard, Journal, ropean Haus of founder of independent publishing house, so the of Black British Femi editor and the Reading Liberated a short film exploring gentrification in South East Lon exploring gentrification in South a short film in pub and features essays as numerous don, as well Consented, Black lications such as Media Diversified, Eu Green BBC, Channel 4, The Fader, Ballad, VICE, The producer of upcoming documentary, ‘1500 & Count documentary, ‘1500 of upcoming producer in police brutality and deaths a film investigating ing’, include ‘Denim’, works other UK. Siana’s custody in the is the author of ‘Elephant’, her debut collection of poet her of ‘Elephant’, author is the Black British womanhood, such as ry themes exploring and is the and sexism; gentrification racism, girlhood, Siana Bangura South East London. She cial commentator hailing from national organisations including the Time Out Group, In Time Out Group, including the national organisations and (Berlin) Books Gestalten Paris, Pernod-Ricard iva, British Council. the design, African pop culture, green spaces and technol spaces green pop culture, design, African for some delightful a vehicle all of which has been ogy, and inter with national commissions and collaborations Nana Ocran architectural including topics has featured work Nana’s Frances Mensah Williams is the author of the nov- els From Pasta to Pigfoot and From Pasta to Pigfoot: Second Helpings. Of Ghanaian origin, she has written three careers books and articles for numerous publica- tions. She is Managing Editor of ReConnect Africa.com, the award-winning online publication for professionals of African origin.

Poetra Asantewa is writer and a poet based in Accra. Her work, both as a performer and a writer engages is- sues of becoming, feminism, inequality, womanhood and mental health in her community. She has participated in internationally acclaimed workshops organised by Fem-

BIO’S rite (2013) and Farfina Trust (2016) and was the first -Po et to be selected as a OneBeat 2016 fellow.

Storyteller Griot Chinyere is a British born African storyteller whose family originates from the Igbo people of West Africa.

Caleb Femi is the Young People's Laureate for London. BIO’S ------Mother Mother

, is edited by Kwame Kwame , is edited by is an award winning poet, winning award an is is a British-born Ghana Girl B Inua Ellams is a British Nigerian Poet. She was short was She is a British Nigerian Poet. , a forthcoming film, poetry se and translation Dawes and forms part Dawes Afri New-Generation of the directing is currently She series 2017. can Poets Tongues ABP. Artsries supported the Council and Autograph by her has been work Acad Royal the commissioned by of Arts, inemy on BBC Ra featured addition to being dio 4. Her debut pamphlet, Victoria Adukwei Bulley A ian poet and writer. Poet, former Barbican Young for the Charles Causley Poetry Prize. She is a Barbican Charles Causley Poetry She for the Prize. programme. 2015/2016 the alumnus from Poet Young Theresa Lola Theresa London Bridport Poetry 2016 Prize, 2016 listed for the highly commended Poetry and was Magazine Prize Eye, Akashic, Nine Arches & Oberon. Nine Arches Akashic, Eye, placement & Destiny are reoccurring themes in his work themes reoccurring & Destiny are placement with traditional new, old with the the mixes in which he contemporary. Histhe Flipped by published are books Born in Nigeria, Born & founder of theplaywright Dis Run. Identity, Midnight BIO’S hour-long surgery. Join her andthe Spread the Word teamforthisexclusive Book Award forher stunningdebutnovel Orangeboy. stones Children’sa BookPrize andthe CostaChildren’s Patrice Lawrence has been shortlisted forThehas beenshortlisted Water - SCHEDULE

25TH M AY 2017

12:30 TO 1:30PM ESCAPE FOR A LUNCH BREAK WITH A DIFFERENCE

STORYTELLING IN THE SQUARE @ ST. JAMES’S SQUARE

Storyteller Griot Chinyere & Shanti-Chi will help kick off the weekender with a reading in the square at St. James’s Sqaure.

VENUE: ST JAMES SQUARE, SW1Y 4LJ

WATERSTONES TAKEOVER

WATERSTONES 203 PICCADILLY W1J 9HD | 4TH FLOOR

1:00PM TO 2:00PM WRITER’S WORKSHOP PATRICE LAWRENCE IN ASSOCI- ATION WITH SPREAD THE WORD

VENUE:WATERSTONES 203 PICCADILLY W1J 9HD | MEZZANINE CAFE

2:30PM TO 3:30PM POETRY HOUR HOSTED BY NANA OCRAN WITH THERESA LOLA AND VICTORIA ANNE-BULLEY

Writer & Critic Nana Ocran chairs a conversation with three

emerging London poets Theresa Lola, Victoria-Anne Bulley on their journeys into poetry. 4:00PM TO 5:00PM LITERATURE OF THE CITY VIA ACCRA’S OXFORD STREET NANA AYEBIA CLARKE MBE IN CONVERSATION WITH POET, PLAYWRIGHT, AND NOVELIST GABRIEL GBADAMOSI – TAKING A LITERARY JOURNEY VIA THE STREETS OF ACCRA AND LAGOS 5:30PM TO 6:30PM WEST AFRICA THROUGH IT’S CUSINE ZOE’S GHANA KITCHEN ZOE ADJONYOH IN CONVERSATION WITH MARGARET BUSBY OBE, NANA AYEBIA CLARKE MBE AND GABRIEL GBADAMOSI

Join chef and founder of Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen Zoe Adjonyoh in conversation with Margaret Busby OBE, Nana Ayebia Clarke MBE and Gabriel Gbadamosi – exploring the various cuisines of West Africa – and shed- ding light on just which country can stake its claim on the much loved West African dish ‘jollof’ rice. Please note: A ticket for this event is essential to guarantee seats

7.00PM TO 8.00PM ART & IDENTITY A CONVERSATION WITH ARTIST YINKA SHONIBARE MBE AND BROADCASTER EKOW ESHUN

This evening Yinka and Eshun discuss their work to explore the intersections of art and identity.

27TH M AY 2017

6:00PM TO 8:00PM INUA ELLAMS RHYTHM AND POETRY PARTY CALEB FEMI, THERESA LOLA, VICTORIA ANNE-BULLEY, CHARLES OBIRI-YEBOAH, DZIFA BENSON AND INUA ELLAMS

Curated especially for the Litro Literary Weekender, this will be

a nostalgic, no-clutter, no-fuss, straight-up evening of hip-hop-

inspired poems and favourite hip-hop songs.

The lineup’s six selected poets are some of the brightest, talent-

ed Ghanaian and Nigerian spoken word artists, crossing genres united by the specificity of language and its potential for effort- less rhyme. Expect your head to nod and heart to move. Featuring

Caleb Femi, Theresa Lola, Victoria Anne-Bulley, Charles Obiri-Ye-

boah, Dzifa Benson, Inua Ellams.

VENUE: WATERSTONES 19-20 TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD W1T 1BJ

28TH M AY 2017

12.00PM TO 1.00PM POETRY HOUR WITH SIANA BANGURA

Join poet Siana Bangura in a special hour of poetry readings

of her work & conversations with guests.

3.00PM TO 4.00PM Litro WOMEN’S HOUR JOIN Siana Bangura, IRENOSEN OKOJIE, Frances Mensah Williams & GUESTS IN CONVERSATION

This evening Yinka and Eshun discuss their work to explore the intersections of art and identity. VENUE: WATERSTONES 19-20 TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD W1T 1BJ

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The Litro Literary Weekender: Ghana & Nigeria – A Literary Highlife

Escape this summer, through words, with a journey to West Africa with Litro Magazine’s latest World Series instalment exploring the cultural and literary landscapes of Ghana & Nigeria: a Literary Highlife

CREDITS

PRODUCER & CURATOR ERIC AKOTO

STAFF THANKS TO EDITOR - ERIC AKOTO THE LONDON LIBRARY, ISABELLE DUPUY CREATIVE DESIGNER - ELINA NIKKINEN PAUL YAW BOATENG, BARON BOATENG MARKETING - NKECHI NOELS WATERSTONES, ELLAH ALLFREY EDITORIAL ASSISTANT - BARNEY WALSH VLISCO, DUNCAN BARTLETT FLASH FICTION EDITOR - CATHERINE MCNAMARA