Europe’s largest black literature event returns for spectacular fourth year

Featuring Diane Abbott, Charlene White, Eve Jihan Cooper, and Kwajo Tweneboa, the Black British Book Festival is Europe’s biggest celebration of black literature.

Returning for its fourth year, on October 5, the festival will be hosted by the Barbican Centre in Silk Street, Barbican, for the first time. 

Amongst speakers headlining the event are Grammy winning rapper Eve Jihan Cooper who will discuss her autobiography Who’s That Girl?: A Memoir, Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington Diane Abbott will feature in a panel titled A Woman Like Me, while activists Mikaela Loach, Tayshan Hayden Smith, and Kwajo Tweneboa will explore important social issues in Our Country in Crisis: Britain’s Housing Emergency and How We Rebuild. 

Attendees can enjoy a range of activities including keynote speeches, and workshops. 

Founded in 2021 by Selina Brown, the Black British Book Festival has quickly become a key event on the literary calendar.

Karena Johnson, head of creative collaboration at the Barbican Centre, said: “We are proud and excited to be hosting the Black British Literature Festival here at the Barbican for the first time this year.

“The extensive line-up of Black talent being celebrated at this full-day event is incredible. The power of books to celebrate Black excellence, to amplify shared connections could not come at a more important time. It’s going to be an inspiring and joyous day.”

Pictured top: Eve Jihan Cooper will discuss her autobiography Who’s That Girl?: A Memoir at the Black British Book Festival (Picture: John Russo)