5 non fiction books by Black British Authors on my reading list. Let me know if you have any other recommendations! 

The ones I’ve read already:

1) Settlers by Jimi famurewa– posted a review a few days ago, you can read it here. Fascinating themes from the British African journey and changing attitudes to commerce, grammar schools, church (and gentrification’s related impacts), culture, diaspora tensions and solidarity. Of course, there’s food- both historical and the emerging African restaurant scene in UK (including the thing with Ikoyi in The Strand).

2)We Were There by Lanre Bakare- review in my drafts! One of my favourite reads this year- A lively social, political and cultural history of Black communities in the UK, outside of London. Bakare’s curious research and interviews gives insight into the much overlooked impact of these communities in resistance, arts, rural living, music

Currently Reading: 

Revolutionary Acts by Jason Okundaye– Already a few chapters in, brilliantly engaging. Through direct interviews with a generation of gay Black British men, this book lights up a Brixton and a layer of our history often unseen. There is a real warmth to history and conversation

Reframing Blackness– I’d been listening to some episodes of ‘A Black History Of Arts Presents: A Shared Gaze”, so was interested to see this released earlier in the year. Alayo Akinkugbe explores the presentation of Black figures in western art, museums, curriculum and feminist art movements. I enjoyed The Whole Picture and would like to read critique from a Black art historian’s perspective

TBR:

Where We Come From by Aniefiok Ekpoudom– Im always a fan of some good music journalism- especially of music ive grown up with. This is a social history of British rap and grime, centring the stories of the artists and communities who created the music. I’ve read a few articles by the author in the past, curious to have a look in