Episodes
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This is a live recording from the just ended All African Book Fair.
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This is a live recording from the just ended All African Book Fair.
In this episode, we spoke with:
Grace Dorcas Anan: Author, publisher and the founder of the All African Book FairThe Black Archives: A cultural center and archive on Black (Dutch) history, arts and culture in AmsterdamDr. Martin Egblewogbe: Author, Lecturer and one of the directors of the Writers Project of Ghana (WPG)Poetra Asantewa: Author, Spoken Word Artist and founder of the Black Girls GlowEmma Ofosua: Writer, Poet and founder of the All African Women Poetry Festival -
Episodes manquant?
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This is a conversation with Bene and Nasiba inspired by @ka_karang's Unpopular Opinion.
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A conversation between host Abena Maryan and guest Ama Asantewa Diaka, known as Poetra Ama Asantewa about her second book "Someone Bithed Them Broken.
About the Book: In this startling collection of short fiction, Ama Asantewa Diaka creates a vibrant portrait of young Ghanaians' today, captured in the experiences of characters whose lives bump against one other in friendship, passion, hope, and heartache.
About the Author: Ama Asantewa Diaka is a poet, a storyteller, and spoken word artist who performs as Poetra Asantewa. She is the author of the chapbook You Too Will Know Me, and the debut poetry collection Woman, Eat Me Whole, and her poems have appeared in print and online. She completed an MFA at the Art Institute of Chicago in 2019. She lives in Ghana.
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In this episode, Bene, Nasiba and Amba discuss their reading journey thus far in 2024.
Books Mentioned:
Favourite book/books of the year so far
Amba:
Someone Birthed Them Broken by Ama Asantewa DiakaSmall Joys by Elvin James MensahThe Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke AmeziThe Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-PearsonHeartsong by T.J KluneBene:
All My Rage by Sabaa TahirSomeone Birthed Them Broken by Ama Asantewa DiakaSmall Joys by Elvin James MensahGod's Children are Little Broken Things by Arinze IfeakanduDays Come and Go by Hemley BoumHow to End a Love Story by Yulin KuangHold my Girl by Charlene CarrThe Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy LefteriDon't Cry for Me by Daniel BlackNasiba:
Someone Birthed Them Broken by Ama Asantewa DiakaDiary of a Dead African by Chuma NwokoloEfuru by Flora NwapaChildren of Quicksand by Efua TraoreFor You I'd Steal a Goat by Niq MnlongoDifficult Women by Roxanne GayAbena:
Maps of our Spectacular Bodies by Maddie MortimerOn the Rooftops by Margaret Wilkerson SextonBehind the Mountains by Edwidge DanticatLucy by Jamaica KincaidSmall Joys by Elvin James MensahThe Colour Purple by Alice WalkerHeaven by Meiko KawakamiHullo, Bu-Bye, Koko, Come in by Koleka PutumaSomeday, Maybe by Onyi NwabineliAnd Then He Sang a Lullaby by Ani Kayode SomtochukwuSomeone Birthed Them Broken by Ama Asantewa DiakaHow to Say Babylon by Safiya SinclairOnly For the Week by Natasha BishopBits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother and Me by Whoopi GoldbergOpen Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson -
Author Ani Kayode Somtochukwu discusses his novel And Then He Sung a Lullaby with Abena Maryan. They discuss his work as a queer liberation activist, queerness, and homophobia in this conversation.
About the Author
Ani Kayode Somtochukwu is a scientist, writer, digital creator and queer liberation activist. His work interrogates themes of queer identity, resistance and liberation, with focus on African narratives of queerness and its varied contestations in the literary and political sphere.
He writes in both English and Igbo and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Biology and Biotechnology from Enugu State University of Science and Technology in 2019.
Authors & Books Mentioned:
Roxane Gay
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwake Emezi
Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi
Vagabonds! Eloghosa Osunde
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On this episode, Abena talks to author Elvin James Mensah on his book Small Joys. They speak about father-son relationship, chosen family and mental health in the book Small Joys.
About the Book:
An unexpected friendship saves a young man's life in this moving, utterly charming debut about chosen family, the winding road to happiness, and the grace of second chances.
About the Author:
Elvin James Mensah was born and raised in South East London. He graduated from Bournemouth University, where he began writing his first novel, Small Joys
Authors Mentioned:
Andrea LevyBrian WashingtonPaul MendezSally RooneyCaleb Azumah NelsonDonna Tartt -
This episode features a conversation between Abena Maryan and voice actor and narrator Tsiddi Can Tamakloe on his experiences narrating audiobooks and voice acting.
About Tsiddi Can-Tamakloe
Tsiddi Can-Tamakloe is Ghanaian voice actor/narrator. He has an avid interest in narrating documentaries, classic literature, and African writing especially. He lives in Accra and volunteers with the Nami Projects, an organisation that advocates for products and services built through the various disciplines of African art. Email: [email protected]
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Here's an update to our series "Bookclubs in Ghana"
In this episode, I speak with the founders of Two Bookclubs about creating a reading club.
About the Bookclub:
Two Bookclub is a bookclub created by bookstagrammers @Bene Reads and @Ka_karang to help readers connect with other readers and find a community.
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Discover what made Abena Maryan take a break and catch up on her latest life updates!
Email: [email protected]
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This episode highlights Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi's life, writing, and achievements.
Books:
Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi read by Abena MaryanManchester Happened by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi read by Amba, Naa Atswei & Prince HenryThe First Woman by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi read by Abena MaryanRelated Articles:
https://jennifermakumbi.net/
https://www.deutschland.de/en/topic/culture/we-interview-the-writer-jennifer-makumbi
https://granta.com/contributor/jennifer-nansubuga-makumbi/ -
In this episode, I talk to Kataru Yahya about her debut novel Home is a Silhouette. We discuss the writing and publishing of the book, themes and characters, and representation of Muslim women.
About the Book:
Asiya Abdullah has it all. But still, her heart is restless. She yearns for a closer relationship with her mother and friends who truly care about her. When a single mistake forces her into the grasp of a successful, powerful, and wanted man, Asiya’s life is thrust into a dark and violent world hidden behind the glittering walls of a mansion.
Lila has long since given up the idea of escaping. Five years have been stolen from her, and with little to go back to, she obediently serves as a maid to the Master of the house. Lila knows she’s a shell of herself and surrounded by people she cannot trust, but with nowhere as a home for her heart, what else can she do? When the two girls’ paths converge, their worlds shatter.
HOME IS A SILHOUETTE is a stunning debut by Kataru Yahya, spinning a multi-POV loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in Ghana, where not all fairy tales are magical.
About the Author:
Kataru Yahya is a Ghanaian writer, poet and diagnostic medical sonographer. Her interest in writing started when she was fourteen. Kataru’s poetry has been published in Ta Adesa and Writer’s Space Africa-Ghana. Outside of writing and ultrasound, she loves to read or binge reruns of her favorite shows.
HOME IS A SILHOUETTE is her debut novel.
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Happy New Year! Welcome to 2024!
Racheal and I discussed our reading goals from last year (2023) and this year's reading goals, the bookish ins and outs, and anticipated reads.
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This episode features Bookstagrammers discussing their reading year.
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Several book clubs exist in and around Accra to foster a love of reading and create a reader community. In this episode, I talk to Amba, a co-founder of Bibliophiles and Vibes and some Book Club members.
Bibliophiles and Vibes is a book club created by four Ghanaian girls who share a love for books.
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In this episode, Racheal Kizza and I discuss "How Book Influencers are Shaping the Literary Space."
The rise of book influencers on social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube and TikTok has changed how readers connect and engage with literature. Recently, Book Influencers' increasing popularity and importance are clear as readers turn to Book Influencers for book recommendations, trusting their opinions on books.
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In this episode, my guests and I talk about starting a book account on social media.
Guests:
@bene.reads
@ka_karang
@booksxbrews
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Racheal Kizza will join me to discuss Ugandan books. The list is curated to help you add Ugandan authors and books to your reading list.
About my Guest:
Racheal Kizza is a cultural practitioner with the Ugandan German Cultural Society, Ibua Publishing and Lolwe. She is the founder and host of Meet Your Author, a podcast that spotlights and celebrates African authors through collaborative discussions and interviews.
Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/meet-your-author
Books and Authors Mentioned:
+ A Recipe for Disaster by Lillian Tindyebwa
+ The First Woman by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
+ Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
+ Whispers from Vera by Goretti Kyomuhendo
+ Widows Wear Lipstick by Martha Kyoshaba Twinamatsiko
+ A Killing in the Sun by Dilman Dila
+ The World Is Ours by Lucie Chihandae
+ Remembering the Future: Reflections on Ugandan Culture in Changing Times by Ibua Publishing (Non-fiction)
+ The Rainmakers by Paul Kisakye
+ Adavera and Kunda by Rachael A.Z. Mutabingwa
Books Influencers to follow:
IG: @abookician_here & @kabby_wanderingbookie
X @i_zziwa
Online Magazine:
The Weganda Review
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In this episode, my guests and I talk about Caleb Azumah Nelson's book Small Worlds.
Guests: @bene.reads, @ka_karang and @booksxbrews
Summary of the book:
Set over the course of three summers, Small Worlds follows Stephen, a first-generation Londoner born to Ghanaian immigrant parents, brother to Ray, and best friend to Adeline. On the cusp of big life changes, Stephen feels pressured to follow a certain path—a university degree, a move out of home—but when he decides instead to follow his first love, music, his world and family fracture in ways he didn’t foresee. Now Stephen must find a path and peace for himself: a space he can feel beautiful, a space he can feel free. Moving from London, England to Accra, Ghana and back again, Small Worlds is an exquisite and intimate new novel about the people and places we hold close.
About the author:
Caleb Azumah Nelson is a British-Ghanaian writer and photographer living in South East London. His first novel, Open Water won the Costa First Novel Award and Debut of the Year at the British Book Awards and was number one Times bestseller. It was also shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize and The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year.
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We are celebrating the memory of Ama Ata Aidoo, Ghana's first prominent female author, with news articles written by some Ghanaian writers.
Articles read were written by:
Annis Haffar published in the Daily Graphic
Nii Ayikwei Parkes online by The Republic
https://republic.com.ng/august-september-2023/the-indelible-life-of-ama-ata-aidoo/
Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah published online by The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/jul/05/our-feminist-ancestor-ama-ata-aidoo-author-activist-and-african-heroine
Voices heard or Music:
Ama Ata Aidoo on Feminism in Africa -BBC HARDtalk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_gJwy9yjrk&t=21s
Brown bids farewell to Playwright Ama Ata Aidoo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW5V1GH7F6E
Poetra Asantewa sings a song from Anowa, written by Ama Ata Aidoo
Monsters You Made by Burna Boy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW5V1GH7F6E
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