Books & Rhymes: The Podcast

"Mwenkanonkano" | Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (Part 2)

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 14:13:16 GMT

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 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 we also draw explicit parallels between Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Makumbi’s Kintu.

Listen to Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi’s curated playlist on Spotify, and Deezer.

Follow @booksandrhymes on Twitter and Instagram to stay informed on the latest news on classic and contemporary books by writers of African descent. We would love it if you share your thoughts & tag us in your social media posts of this episode.

The song you heard in the intro and outro of this podcast is titled: Reset by Meakoom (Meakoom) link to her music is available on Bandcamp

Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi's Bibliography:

- Kintu

- Manchester Happened (Published as Let's Tell This Story Properly in the USA)

- The First Woman - (Published as A Girl Is a Body of Water in the USA)

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

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 08:50:49 GMT

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 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 Happened (published as Let’s Tell This Story Properly in the USA) situate Ugandan mythology in the fictional narrative of historical and contemporary Ugandan experiences.

We use the music of Miriam Makeba, Queen, Eddy Kenzo, Tracy Chapman, Krizbeatz x Teni and more to explore Makumbi’s experience of being published, the real value of winning the Kwani! manuscript project & how it defined her writing career, why writers must to invest in good editors, and we also discuss her response to that introductory essay to the USA edition of Kintu.

Listen to Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi’s curated playlist on Spotify, and Deezer.

The song you heard in the intro and outro of this podcast is titled: Reset by Meakoom (Meakoom) link to her music is available on Bandcamp

Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi's Bibliography:

- Kintu

- Manchester Happened (Published as Let's Tell This Story Properly in the USA)

- The First Woman - (Published as A Girl Is a Body of Water in the USA)

Books discussed and referenced in this episode:

- Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream to The Sun – Sarah Ladipo Manyika

- The Famished Road – Ben Okri

- God's Bits of Wood - Sembene Ousmane

- Lives of Great Men - Chike Frankie Edozien

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"Psychogeography" | Caleb Femi

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 23:42:41 GMT

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 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 relationship between architecture and social stratification, the importance of finding and reading resonant poetry, the conversational between poetry and photography, and the philosophy that undergirds his work.

**win signed copies** of Caleb Femi's debut collection of poetry, Poor, by subscribing to our mailing list here --> http://eepurl.com/gr0kD5. The winner will be selected from our list of subscribers and announced on Monday 16th of November.

Listen to Caleb Femi’s curated playlist on Spotify, and Deezer. For more information on Caleb Femi’s work, follow him on twitter and Instagram.

I am pleased to announce an international giveaway of two signed copies of Caleb Femi’s collection of poetry, Poor, in collaboration with Ed Public Relations. The giveaway ends on Monday 16th of November. For a chance to win one signed copy of the book, simply subscribe to the mailing list via link in the episode description. The winner will be seleted from our list of subscribers.

For a chance to win the second signed copy, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @booksandrhymes, entry details will be posted.

The song you heard in the intro and outro of this podcast is titled: Reset by Meakoom (Meakoom) link to her music is available on Bandcamp

Books discussed and referenced in this episode:

- Citizen – Claudia Rankine

- Salt – Nayyirah Waheed

- The Light Song of Light – Kei Miller

- Teaching My Mother How To Give Birth – Warsane Shire

- Surge – Jay Bernard

- The Perseverance – Raymond Antrobus

- My Darling From the Lions – Rachel Long

- Some Bright Elegance– Kayo Chingonyi

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"Bridging the Gap" | Ayesha Harruna Attah

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 00:13:20 GMT

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 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 translating a 3000 year old Hieroglyphic Egyptian love story into multiple african languages. Visit AyeshaAttah.com ot learn more about her work.

Listen to Ayesha’s curated playlist on Spotify, Deezer and YouTube

Continue the conversation by posting your thoughts on this episode on Twitter and Instagram and using the hashtag #BooksAndRhymes

Ayesha Harruna Attah’s bibliography

- Saturday Shadows (Per Ankh Publisher)

- Harmattan rain

- The Hundred Wells of Salaga

- The Deep Blue between

Books published as part of project that translates Hieroglyphics to multiple African languages:

- Sanhat

- Smi n skhty pn: Multilingual Translation of a 4000 year old African Love Story (also known as The eloquent peasant) translated by Ayi Kwei Armah, Ayeesha Harruna Attah et al.

- Skhmkht Ea: On Love Sublime- A Multilingual Translation of an African Love Poem.

- The instructions of Ptahhotep

Books discussed and referenced in this episode:

- One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez

- Daughters of Africa – Margaret Busby

- New Daughters of Africa – Margaret Busby

- The Eloquence of the Scribes: A memoir on the sources and resources of African Literature - Ayi Kwei Armah

- Two Sisters – Ama Ata Aidoo

- Woman who runs with the wolves: Myth and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype – Clarissa Pinkola Estes

- Bird by Bird – Anne Lamont.

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"Literary Romance" | Sareeta Domingo

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 15:46:34 GMT

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 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 #Twentyin2020 project.

Listen to Sareeta Domingo’s specially curated playlist for Books & Rhymes: The Podcast on Spotify and Deezer.

Continue the conversation by sharing your thoughts on this episode across social media. Follow @booksandrhymes on Twitter and Instagram.

Titles Authored or Edited by Sareeta Domingo

- If I don’t Have you

- Who’s Loving You

- The Nearness of you

- Love, Secret Santa

Titles (and Poem) Referenced in the discussion:

- The Ballad of J. Alfred Prufrock (a poem) – T. S. Elliott

- The outsiders - SE Hinton

- Beloved - Toni Morrison

- Little fires everywhere – Celeste Ng

- The sky is everywhere -

- Ordinary people – Diana Evans

- My Sister The Serial Killer – Oyinkan Braithwaite

- Stay with me – Ayobami Adebayo

- Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives – Lola Shoneyin

- Behold The Dreamers – Mbolo Mbue

- The Terrible - Yrsa Daley Ward

- Simone is Still Single – Lisa Bent

- Bad Love – Maame Blue

Recommended Romance authors:

- Alyssa Cole

- Talia Hibbert

Songs Referenced in the discussion:

- Gatekeeper – ESKA

- The Ballad of Dorothy Parker – Prince

- Love Has fallen on Me – Chaka Khan

- The Nearness of You – Ella Fitgerald

- If I Don’t Have You – Gregory Isaac

- If I Don’t Have You (cover)– Sareeta Domingo

- Who’s Loving You – Jackson 5

- Orange Moon – Erykah...

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"Negotiating Sexuality" | Tola Rotimi Abraham

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 00:25:31 GMT

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 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 Gold, Teni The Entertainer, Shoma Madjozi and more to discuss consent in hyper-patriarchal societies, the inevitable emotional weight of (re)writing and editing traumatic scenes, & linguistic misnomers in the depiction of localised customs in literature published in the West. Listen Tola Abraham’s specially curated playlist Spotify, Deezer and YouTube. Listen to a playlist if sings curated by Tola Rotimi Abraham on Spotify, Deezer and YouTube.

Continue the conversation by posting your thoughts on this episode on Twitter and Instagram by tagging us #BooksAndRhymes

The song you heard in the intro and outro of this podcast is titled: Reset by Meakoom (Meakoom) link to her music is available on Bandcamp

Purchase Tola Rotimi Abraham’s unforgettable novel Black Sunday online and in your local bookstore.

Authors & Books referenced:

- We Need New Names - Noviolet Bulawayo

- Helen Oyeyemi

- Tade Thompson

- Nnedi Okorafor

- The Vanishing Half - Brit Bennett

Songs Referenced:

- John Cena – Sho Madjozi

- Surrender – Natalie Taylor

- Ire – Adekunle Gold.

- Teni – Uyo Meyo

- Brown Skin Girl - Beyonce

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"Things Fall Together" | Muthoni Muiruri

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 19:52:23 GMT

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 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 African Review, and the recently launched Things Fall Together vodcast that explores the intersection between literature, life, culture and community. She hosts Bookish Pipo Book Club a monthly in-person book club based in Kenya. Follow Muthoni on Twitter and Instagram

Listen to playlist of the songs referenced in this episode on Spotify, Deezer and YouTube

Tweet your thoughts on this episode by tagging us @BooksAndRhymes

Books referenced:

- Americanah - Chimamanda N Adichie RThings Fall Apart

- No Longer At Ease – Chinua Achebe

- Arrow of God – Chinua Achebe

- The Concubine - Elechi Amadi

- Efuru - Flora Nwapa

- The DragonFly – Yvonne Adhianbo

- We Need New Names – NoViolet Bulawaiyo

- What it Means When A man Falls from The Sky – Lesley Nneka Arimah

- The Secret Lives of baba Segi’s Wives – Lola Shoneyin

- Girl, Woman, Other - Bernardine Evaristo

- Kintu – Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

- The Havoc of Choice – Wanjiru Koinange

Songs Refernced:

- Therapy – India.Arie

- All Night - Beyoncé

- Extravaganza – Sauti Sol

- Read All About It – Emeli Sande

- Africa – Yemi Alade ft. Sauti Sol

- Emotional Rollercoaster – Vivian Green

- What Now– Rihanna

- Brown...

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"Literature Infrastructure" | Ebissé Wakjira Rouw

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 20:51:15 GMT

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 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’s Sister Outsider, Afro-Lit – Moderne Literatuur Uit De Afrikaanse Diaspora, and DeGoede Immigrant (the Dutch iteration of the ground-breaking anthology, The Good Immigrant).

The playlist of songs referenced in this episdoe is available on Spotify and Deezer

Keep up to date with Ebissé by visiting dipsaus.org. Follow Ebissé @DipsausPodcast on Twitter and Instagram:

The song you heard in the intro and outro of this podcast is titled Reset Meakoom follow them on Bandcamp

Books referenced in this episode:

- A Strangers Pose - Enmanuel Iduma

- De Goede Immigrant – Edited by Dipsaus

- Sister Outsider – Audre Lorde

- Afro-Lit – Moderne Literatuur Uit De Afrikaanse Diaspora – Edited by Dalilla Hermans and Ebissé Wakjira Rouw

- Hallo Witte Mensen - Anousha Nzume

- Fikir esle Meqabir - Hadis Alemayehu

Songs referenced this episode:

- Never too much - Luhter Vandross is our jam where Noush put a ring

- Stuntin like ma daddy - Birdman, Lil Wayne,

- If I ruled the World - NAS, Lauryn Hill

- Where the bag at - City Girls.

- Tizita – Mahmoud Ahmed

Podcast referenced in this episode:

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"Ask A Caine Prize Judge" | Ebissé Wakjira Rouw

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 22:36:48 GMT

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 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 the position that literary prizes occupy within the African landscape, and the process of judging the 2020 Caine Prize for Africa Writing.

Ebissé also answers listeners questions submitted via our social media handles. Tune in next week for Part Two of our conversation when we discuss in detail, Black Lives Matter & publishing while Black in the Netherlands and Europe.

Keep up to date with Ebissé by visiting dipsaus.org. Follow DipsausPodcast on Twitter: Twitter.com/DipsausPodcast and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dipsauspodcast

Listen to playlist of the songs referenced in this episode on Spotify and Deezer

The song you heard in the intro and outro of this podcast is titled: Reset by Meakoom (Meakoom) the song is available for purchase on Bandcamp

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"Resistance to Prescription" | Jowhor Ile

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 12:07:57 GMT

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 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 story Fisherman's Stew - an intimate otherworldly love story. We also explore the process of conveying intimacy in writing, reflecting older women in romantic relationships and Jowhor’s writing habit.

Listen to the playlist of the songs referenced in this episode Spotify, Deezer and YouTube

The winner of the AKO Caine Prize will be announced online. Read the 2020 AKO Caine Prize shortlisted stories here.

Tweet your thoughts by using the hashtag #BooksAndRhymes

The song you heard in the intro and outro of this podcast is titled: Reset by Meakoom the song is available for purchase on Bandcamp

Listen to Rémy Ngamije's playlist to Fisherman on Brittle Paper

Books referenced in this episode:

Arrow of God – Chinua Achebe

And After Many Days - Jowhor Ile

What It Means When A Man Fall From the Sky – Lesley Nneka Arimah

Quintessentially Efik Recepies: Foods of Nigeria-- Nky Iweka

Longthroat Memoirs: Soups, Sex and Nigerian Taste Buds-- Yemisi Aribisala

Songs referenced this episode:

Berebote - Cardinal Jim Rex Lawson

Nothing Even Matters - Lauryn Hill ft D’Angelo

Iyogogo - Onyeka Onwenu

Look before you Cross - Evi-Edna Ogholi

Miles Runs the Voodoo Down - Miles Davis

Nights - Frank Ocean

Sade - The Sweetest Taboo

Trouble Sleep Yanga go Wake Am - Fela Kuti (song)

Lilac Wine - Nina Simone

Listen to the full playlist on:

Spotify,

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"Move In Power"| Rémy Ngamije

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 17:35:54 GMT

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 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 literature.

We continue our special one-to-one interview with the shortlisted writers for the AKO Caine Prize for African Writing with Remy Ngamije, a Rwandan born, Namibian writer, editor and photographer whose story, The Neighbourhood Watch is vying for the £10,000 prize.

Listen to Remy's playlist on Deezer, Spotify and YouTube

Share your thoughts on this episode using #BooksAndRhymes

The song you heard in the intro and outro of this podcast is titled: Reset by Meakoom the song is available on Bandcamp

Books referenced in this episode:

The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier

African Book of Short Story Writing – edited by Helon Habila

Little Family – by Ishmael Beah

Literary Journals Referenced:

Doek Lit Mag, Lolwe, Bakwa Magazine, Brittle Paper, Johannesburg Review of Books,

Songs referenced this episode:

Tomorrow – Salif Keita

Sound Check - The Muffinz

Stimela – Hugh Masekela

Mbube - Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Africa – Salif Keita

Africa – Yemy Alade ft. Sauti Sol

Make The Road by Walking - The Menahan Street Band

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"Narrative Closure" | Erica Sugo Anyadike

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 18:08:13 GMT

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 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 the process of writing.

Read the shortlisted AKO Caine Prize stories including How To Marry and African President online at CainePrize.com

Listen to playlist of songs exclusively curated by Erica Sugo Anyadike for Books & Rhymes here

The winner of the 2020 AKO Caine Prize for African Writing will be announced on Monday 27th of July, the announcement will be accompanied by the screening of a specially commissioned film by renowned filmmaker Joseph Adesunloye.

The song you heard in the intro and outro of this podcast is titled: Reset by Meakoom the song is available on Bandcamp: https://meakoom.bandcamp.com/track/reset-books-rhymes-podcast-theme-song

Follow @BooksAndRhymes on Instagram and Twitter

Share your thoughts on this episode using #BooksAndRhymes

Books referenced in this episode: (Available for purchase online and in bookshops)

In Live and Trouble – Alice Walker

Songs referenced this episode:

Suzanna - Sauti Sol

Control - Janet Jackson

Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Nina Simone

Tyrone: Live - Erykah Badu

If I Were A Boy – Beyoncé

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

Mon, 07 Oct 2019 19:46:00 GMT

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 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 professional bodies such as the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) in propelling the careers of aspiring journalists. We also discuss dealing with homophobia among family members.

Follow @BooksAndRhymes on Instagram and Twitter

Listen to playlist of the songs referenced in this episode on Spotify, Deezer, and YouTube

Lives of Great Men is published by: Team Angelica (UK & USA), Ouida Books (Nigeria), Jacana Books (South Africa).

Books referenced in this episode: (Available for purchase online and in bookshops)

The Face: Cartography of the Void - Chris Abani

Walking with Shadows - Jude Dibia

She Called Me Woman - Edited by Azeenarh Mohammed, Chitra Nagarajan and Rafeeat Aliyu

Songs referenced this episode: (listen to the playlist on Spotify, Deezer, and YouTube)

Lady - Fela Kuti

Diallo - Wyclef Jean

Ekwe - Onyeka Owenu

Sweet Mother - Prince Nico Mbaga

Johnny - Yemi Alade

Sweetest Taboo - Sade

Moving on Up - M People

Umqombothi - Yvonne Chaka Chaka

Love Child - The...

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

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 19:45:00 GMT

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 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 homosexuality in West Africa, and the circumstances that compelled Edozien to pursue a career in journalism.

Subscribe to the mailing list at Booksandrhymes.com

Follow @BooksAndRhymes on https://instagram.com/booksandrhymes/ and https://twitter.com/booksandrhymes,

The playlist of the songs referenced in this episode is available on Spotify and YouTube.

Lives of Great Men is published by: Team Angelica (UK), Ouida Books (Nigeria), Jacana Media (South Africa).

Songs referenced this episode: (listen to the playlist on Spotify, Deezer, and YouTube.):

Taxi Driver (I Don’t Care) - Bobby Benson

Taxi Driver (I Don’t Care) - Mandy Brown Ojugbana

Proud - Heather Small

Work - Masters at Work

Reviews of Lives of Great Men referenced:

Lives of Great Men by Chike Frankie Edozien by Diana Evans– An African exodus

Diriye Osman Reviews Chike Frankie Edozien’s Triumphant Memoir in HuffPost

Books referenced in this episode: (Available for purchase online and in bookshops)

Sista! An Anthology of Writing by and about Same Gender Loving...

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"In Search of History" | Novuyo Rosa Tshuma

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 00:44:36 GMT

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, 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 and your local bookshops).

House of Hunger – Dambuzo Marechera

These Bones Will Rise Again – Panashe Chigumadzi

Stone Virgins – Yvonne Vera

My Sister The Serial Killer – Oyinkan Braithwaite

Nervous Conditions – Tsitsi Dagaremba

A Thousand Years of Good Prayers – Yiyun Li

A Strangers Pose – Emmanuel Iduma

Songs referenced this episode (listen to the playlist on Spotify, Deezer, and YouTube):

Zimbabwe – Bob Marley

Danger Zone – Thomas Mapfumo

Rhodesians Never Die – David Scobie

What’s Love Got To Do With It – Tina Turner

Aboki – Ice Prince

Coffin For Head of State – Fela Kuti

Umoya Wami – Lovemore Majaivana

Keep It Moving – Empire Cast

Cries of the Motherland - Caiiro

Reviews:

Books & Rhymes’ review on Bookstagram

Helon Habila’s review in The Guardian Newspaper

Yiyun Li’s recommendation in Vanity Fair magazine

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"Postcolonial Trauma" | Jumoke Verissimo

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 23:05:30 GMT

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 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 and isolation.

Read Brittle Paper's review here.

Songs referenced in the discussion: (listen to the playlist on Spotify, Deezer, and YouTube):

A Beautiful Imperfection – Asa

The Way I Feel – Asa

I am A Rock – Simon and Garfunkel

Gravity – John Meyer

Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Nina Simone

Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers

Army Arrangement – Fela Kuti

Disturbia – Rihanna

This episode was recorded in partnership with Cassava Republic Press at Library - A members only club situated in central London.

Share your thought on this episode using the hashtag #Booksandrhymes

Follow @BooksAndRhymes on Instagram and Twitter,

Subscribe to the mailing list at Booksandrhymes.com

Email your thoughts to BooksAndRhymes@gmail.com

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"When Writing Begin to Sing" | Sarah Ladipo Manyika

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 08:07:29 GMT

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 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 to life. Sarah Ladipo Manyika also expands on the import of Toni Morrison’s advice to writers in her acceptance speech for the 1993 Nobel Prize for Literature.

This episode was recorded live at Foyles flagship bookshop in Charring Cross, London, in partnership with Cassava Republic Press.

Books and articles mentioned:

In Dependence – Sarah Ladipo Manyika

Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream To The Sun - Sarah Ladipo Manyika

New Daughters of Africa - Edited by Margaret Busby

We Need New Names – NoViolet Bulawayo

Lagos Noir – Edited by Chris Abani

The books are widely available for purchase online and in your local bookshops.

Articles referenced: interview with Toni Morrison, On meeting Toni Morrison, and ‘On Meeting Mrs Obama’

Film referenced: Mother of George – directed by Andrew Dosunmu

Songs referenced this episode (listen to the extended playlist on Spotify and YouTube):

Market Place – High Masekela

Waiting in Vain – Bob Marley

Reinfiltrator – Falana

Start Again – Falana

Hear Me Lord – Oliver Tuku Mtukudzi

She’s a Bad Mama Jama – Carl Carlton

Amen/ This Little Light of Mine – Etta James

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

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 17:05:00 GMT

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’, 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

Tweet your thought on this episode using the hashtag #Booksandrhymes, follow @booksandrhymes on twitter and instagram

A playlist of the songs featured in this episode including a specially curated soundtrack to each story is available on Spotify and YouTube

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The song you heard at the intro and outro is titled Dismembered by Meakoom.

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"Dark Angel" | Oyinkan Braithwaite

Mon, 27 May 2019 23:00:00 GMT

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 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 cried uncontrollably after reading A voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers.

An extended playlist of Saraiya Bah’s musical pairings is available on Spotify and YouTube

Subscribe to the mailing list at booksandrhymes.com.

Tune into next week’s episode with Lydia Levy Kakwera, whose piece “That Idyllic Home” was recently published in Writvism anthology titled: Unbreakable Bonds. we discuss migrant literature and the art of maintaining a consistent reading habit.

Subscribe, rate, and review Books & Rhymes on iTunes and your favourite podcast listening platforms. Tweet your thought on this episode using the hashtag #Booksandrhymes, follow @booksandrhymes on twitter and instagram

The song you heard at the intro and outro is titled Dismembered by Meakoom.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

Wed, 15 May 2019 04:30:34 GMT

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 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 playlist of Saraiya musical pairings on Spotify, Deezer, and YouTube

The song you heard in the intro and outro is titled Dismembered by Meakoom.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Emotional Landscape" | Namwali Serpell

Mon, 06 May 2019 06:30:00 GMT

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 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 novels like Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, and Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience in London.

Listen to Namwali Serpell's curated playlist to her debut novel, The Old Drift for Books & Rhymes: The Podcast on Spotify, Deezer, and YouTube.

Titles referenced in the discussion:

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell’s
Africa39: New Writing from Africa South of the Sahara- Edited by Ellah Wakatama
New Daughters of Africa - Edited by Margaret Busby
Kintu - Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

Namwali Serpell's Bibliography:

The Old Drift
Seeven Modes of Uncertainty
'Muzungu', The Best American Short Stories 2009, edited by Alice Sebold
'The Sack', Published in Africa 39: New Writing from Africa South of the Sahara, edited by Ellah Wakatama
'Between The Living and the Dead', published in New daughters of Africa, edited by Margaret Busby.

Songs referenced in the discussion:

Homogenic - Bjork
Joga - Bjork
Chakolwa (Drunkard) - Larry Maluma
Teclo - PJ Harvey.
Crossroads - Tracy Chapman.

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Books & Rhymes: The Podcast theme song is by Meakoom

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Introducing Books & Rhymes: The Podcast

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 21:58:00 GMT

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 featured in each episode is available via link in the show notes.

Subscribe, review and rate Books & Rhymes on iTunes and your fave podcast listening platforms.

Follow @BooksAndRhymes on Instagram and Twitter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.