Black British Book Festival 2025

Your Festival Pass will give you access to one of these headline events. A VIP Pass will give you access to all headline events.

Rediscovering Malcolm X: Revolution, Resistance, and the Fight for True Freedom
With Kehinde Andrews, Dawn Butler and Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu
1pm, Milton Court 
Radical, visionary and uncompromising – join us to unpack the real Malcolm X. Kehinde Andrews, Dawn Butler MP and Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu lead this bold conversation about revolution, truth and his lasting legacy.

Malcolm X wasn’t just a symbol of Black pride – he was a revolutionary force. Too often reduced to a soundbite or softened to fit mainstream narratives, his legacy has been distorted, diluted, and misunderstood.

This powerful conversation goes beyond the surface to explore the real Malcolm - the thinker, the radical, the visionary. Inspired by Nobody Can Give You Freedom by Kehinde Andrews, join Labour MP Dawn Butler, Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu and Shaka Ra as they unpack how Malcolm’s message still shakes the status quo today.

Expect bold truths, fearless dialogue, and deep insight into one of the most important political voices of the 20th century.

Horizons & Heartbreak: In Conversation with Jordan Stephens
2.30pm, Milton Court 
Jordan Stephens gets real on fame, healing, and fatherhood at this in-conversation event about his powerful, personal journey through art, identity and healing. 

Step into the mind of Jordan Stephens, multi-hyphenate creative, Sunday Times bestselling author and one half of the iconic duo Rizzle Kicks, at this unfiltered and powerful discussion. 

From chart-topping fame to creative reinvention, Jordan opens up about the highs, the heartbreaks, and the hope that fuels his work. He’ll share the deeply personal journey behind his new children’s book See For Yourself, a moving, magical story about a boy, his dad, and the courage to dream wildly.

Expect honest reflections, raw vulnerability, and inspiring insight into creativity and what it really means to grow up in the spotlight and still stay true to yourself.

The Shape of Us: Legacy, Identity and Thriving in the Spotlight
With June Sarpong OBE, Dame Denise Lewis DBE and Symeon Brown
4pm, Milton Court
Two of the most iconic Black British women in media. One unforgettable conversation.

Don't miss this powerhouse conversation between June Sarpong OBE and Dame Denise Lewis DBE, exploring legacy, identity, and reinvention with award-winning journalist Symeon Brown.

Join broadcasting pioneer, author and Akan Books founder June Sarpong OBE, and Olympic legend turned television powerhouse Dame Denise Lewis DBE, as they sit down with award-winning journalist Symeon Brown (Channel 4 News, The Good, The Black and The Boujee) for a bold, brilliant discussion on legacy, identity, and reinvention.

From breaking barriers in sport and media to shaping global conversations on race, gender, and representation, this panel dives into what it truly means to thrive in the spotlight. Expect honesty, insight, and the kind of wisdom only decades of excellence can bring.

This is more than a talk. It’s a masterclass in resilience, purpose, and owning your narrative.

The Big Payback: Reparations, Power and the Price of Justice
With Sir Lenny Henry, Marcus Ryder and Eric Collins
5.30pm, Milton Court
Sir Lenny Henry and Marcus Ryder explore reparations, justice, and Britain’s true legacy. A fearless call for truth, equity, and accountability, chaired by Eric Collins.

Who pays for the past and who decides the price?

Join legendary actor and campaigner Sir Lenny Henry and award-winning journalist Marcus Ryder as they confront one of the most urgent moral questions of our time: reparations. In this ground-breaking conversation, chaired by leading entrepreneur Eric Collins, the co-authors of The Big Payback: The Case for Reparations for Slavery and How They Would Work? unpack the true legacy of slavery and systemic injustice in Britain.

Why were the perpetrators compensated – but not the victims? What would real reparative justice look like? And is Britain ready to reckon with the truth?

From Westminster to Windrush, from cultural amnesia to corporate accountability, this conversation goes beyond headlines – to demand clarity, courage, and a new definition of equity.

Doing a New Thing: In Conversation with Tabitha Brown
With Tabitha Brown and Oti Mabuse
7pm, Milton Court
Join “America’s Mom” Tabitha Brown, New York Times bestselling author, actress, entrepreneur, and vegan inspiration for an uplifting evening in conversation with broadcaster and dance star Oti Mabuse.

Tabitha’s latest book I Did a New Thing invites us all to embrace change one step at a time whether it’s trying a new food, facing a fear, or having that brave conversation we’ve been putting off. What began as her personal 30-day challenge has blossomed into a life philosophy that transformed her health, career, and outlook.

In this intimate and joy-filled discussion, Oti Mabuse will guide Tabitha through stories of courage, entrepreneurship, faith, and fresh starts exploring how simple acts of saying “yes” to something new can spark lasting transformation.

Expect laughter, wisdom, and a whole lot of heart as these two powerhouse women share how to find healing, purpose, and joy one new thing at a time.

You must have a Festival Pass to attend these events - spaces are limited.

Hidden in Plain Sight: The Untold Stories of Black British History
2pm - 3pm, Frobisher Auditorium 1
From forgotten cities to erased changemakers, this powerful panel uncovers the histories that Britain tried to bury. Join authors Lanre Bakare (We Were There), Paterson Joseph (TEN: Children Who Changed The World), and historian Imaobong Umoren (Empire Without End) as they shine a light on the Black British voices, movements, and legacies too often left out of the national story. Chaired by author Colin Grant, author and director of WritersMosaic, together they’ll explore what it means to reclaim the past, reframe our present, and reshape the future through truth-telling. 

The Girl Who Broke the Internet: 20 Years of Keisha the Sket
4pm - 5pm, Frobisher Auditorium 1
Before viral storytelling had a name, there was Keisha the Sket. In 2005, a 13-year-old Jade LB changed the game — serialising her bold, raw, text-speak story on Piczo and MSN. It spread like wildfire through Black British teenage circles, long before social media, long before publishing was ready. Now, 20 years on, Keisha the Sket is more than a cult classic — it’s a landmark in Black British literature. Join author Jade LB and original editor Lemara Lindsay-Prince (founder of Studio Lemara, formerly #Merky Books) as they reflect on the story’s underground beginnings, its powerful 2021 republication with Stormzy’s imprint, and the cultural shift it ignited.

I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
6pm - 7.30pm, Cinema 1, Level -2
Join the Black British Book Festival in partnership with The New Black Film Collective for a screening of Raoul Peck’s acclaimed documentary I Am Not Your Negro (2016). Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, the film adapts James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript Remember This House to explore the stories of civil rights icons Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr., framing a searing critique of racism in the United States.

Sugar & Spice: Bold Bakes and Comfort Food with Remi Idowu
1pm - 2pm, Conservatory Terrace, Level 4
Sweet, spicy, and seriously satisfying — this cookery session serves joy by the spoonful. Join food content creator and cookbook author Remi Idowu for a live workshop inspired by her bold and brilliant debut, Sugar & Spice. Known for her viral twists on nostalgic bakes and comfort food classics, Remi will guide you through her signature style; easy recipes with a punch of personality.

Rooted in Resistance: Black Voices on Climate, Nature & Radical Futures
3pm-4pm, Conservatory Terrace, Level 4
What does it mean to belong to a world that’s burning — and still find beauty in its bloom? In this timely and powerful conversation, poet and essayist Selina Nwulu (Black Climates) and researcher and storyteller Joycelyn Longdon (Natural Connection) join climate expert Brianna Craft (We Don’t Have Time For This) to explore the intersection of nature, race, and resistance. Together, they’ll unpack how climate change and environmental injustice disproportionately impact Black communities — and why any conversation about the future of the planet must centre those most affected.

Speculative Realms: Fantasy, Futures & the Boundless Black Imagination
5pm - 6pm, Conservatory Terrace, Level 4
From sun-drenched kingdoms to haunted cityscapes, acclaimed authors Marvellous Michael Anson (Firstborn of the Sun), Irenosen Okojie (Curandera), and Adam Oyebanji (Esperance) are expanding the edges of speculative fiction, crafting mythologies rooted in African and diasporic traditions, and reimagining the future through a distinctly Black lens. Chaired by T.L. Huchu (Secrets of the First School), this conversation explores fantasy, futurism, and everything in between.

Killer Lines: Black Voices Rewriting Crime Fiction
7pm - 8pm, Conservatory Terrace, Level 4
From suspicious deaths to missing people, buried secrets to village mysteries — join three exciting voices in crime fiction who know how to keep you guessing until the very last page. Remi Kone (Innocent Guilt), Foday Mannah (The Search for Othella Savage), and Paula Sutton (The Body in the Kitchen Garden) sit down with bestselling author Nadine Matheson to explore what makes a great mystery, how to build suspense, and why crime fiction is one of the most addictive genres around.

Visit the Foyer on Level G and Level -1 for a free programme of talks, workshops, and performances from 12pm . Hosted by the Black British Book Festival, come dream up your first novel, catch a poetry show or simply get stuck into a good book. 

All workshops are drop-in, no ticket required.

All free programme talks and workshop spaces are limited.

DJ AG: Beats & Stories in Motion
3.30pm - 4.30pm, Freestage, Level G
Get ready for a high-energy night with DJ AG, bringing you an unforgettable DJ set featuring surprise special guests and unforgettable beats. Tunes will flow seamlessly as DJ AG takes you through a dynamic mix, while special guests drop in to spin, sing, or hype the crowd. Expect moments where the audience helps steer the show—shouting out song requests, reacting to drop surprises, and being part of the live experience. Join for an event where DJ AG and friends turn up the volume, and you turn up the interaction.

Inside the Editor’s Room: 1:1’s with Pan Macmillan
1pm-4pm, Level G Studio, Level G
Ever wondered what makes an editor stop and say yes to a manuscript? This is your chance to find out. Join Pan Macmillan editors for an exclusive opportunity to discuss your projects, ask questions, and get tailored advice on writing, pitching, and navigating the publishing industry. You’ll meet Ebruba Abel-Unokan (Assistant Editor of literary and speculative fiction at Picador), Gillian Green (Publisher at Tor, Bramble, Nightfire), and Kesia Lupo (Commissioning Editor at Macmillan Children’s Books – First Ink). Whether you’re writing contemporary realism, genre-bending YA, speculative fiction, or romance with a twist, this event is designed to help you refine your work and understand what today’s editors are looking for. Bring your ideas, your questions, and your curiosity—and step inside the editor’s room.

Bloodlines & Boundaries: Writing Mothers, Daughters & the Stories We Weren’t Meant to Tell
1pm - 1.40pm, Level -1 Foyer
What gets passed down through bloodlines — and what gets buried? In this fearless, emotionally charged conversation, three powerful storytellers — Celeste Mohammed, Olumide Popoola, and Marcia Hutchinson — dig into the raw truths of motherhood, survival, and the silences that shape generations. From hidden grief and mental health struggles to migration, colonial trauma, and complicated faith, they explore what daughters inherit, what mothers carry, and what it takes to break the cycle. Chaired by Jackson P Brown, this session is about writing the stories we were never meant to tell — and reclaiming the ones we weren’t supposed to survive. Come for the pain, stay for the power. This is writing as witness, resistance, and release.

Breaking Barriers: How Underrepresented Authors are Owning Their Publishing Power
2pm - 2.40pm, Level -1 Foyer
Bringing together pioneering voices from across the industry — including New Beacon Books, Daniella Blechner, Lola Moore, and Mayowa Precious Agbabiaka — and moderated by Ben Hughes and Chris Sako of IngramSpark, this panel will explore how Black authors are carving their own paths in publishing. From self-publishing successes to creative ways of reaching readers, breaking into bookstores, and building community support, the discussion will highlight real stories of resilience, innovation, and impact. Audiences will leave with practical tips, relatable examples, and a renewed sense of confidence to pursue their own publishing journeys.

Culinary Cultures: Storytelling Through Caribbean Food
3pm - 3.40pm, Level -1 Foyer
Join Keshia Sakarah, author of Caribe, for a rich discussion about the power of food writing to honour heritage and spark cultural change. Too often flattened into stereotypes, Caribbean cuisine holds multitudes — from ancestral knowledge to contemporary reinvention. This conversation explores how documenting African and Caribbean foodways can preserve identity, challenge misrepresentation, and celebrate the emotional depth of family recipes. Come hungry for more than food — come for stories that nourish legacy.

Roots & Reigns: Reclaiming African Histories and Power
4pm - 4.40pm, Level -1 Foyer 
Who were we before colonialism told us who to be? Join acclaimed authors Luke Pepera (Motherland) and Paula Akpan (When We Ruled) for a bold and expansive conversation on reclaiming African history — and with it, identity, pride, and power. From Pepera’s sweeping exploration of 500,000 years of African civilisation to Akpan’s vivid retelling of the lives of African queens and warriors, this session unearths stories long silenced by empire and distortion. Together, they’ll reflect on what it means to reconnect with ancestral truth, challenge historical erasure, and write ourselves back into the centre of our narratives. This is more than history — it’s restoration, remembrance, and resistance.

Beyond the Algorithm: Black Writers, AI, and the Battle for Creative Power
4.50pm - 5.30pm, Level -1 Foyer 
As AI continues to reshape the publishing landscape, urgent questions emerge: Who gets copied? Who gets erased? And who gets to tell their story? Join acclaimed authors Phoebe McIntosh, Rivers Solomon, and Lisa Smith in conversation with Hachette editor Hannah Chukwu for a timely, essential discussion on how automation and algorithm-driven systems are already impacting the future of Black literature. From AI models trained on pirated work to the erasure of underrepresented voices in data-driven publishing, this session explores the tension between innovation and exploitation — and how Black writers can protect, adapt, and lead in a rapidly shifting digital space. This is not just a conversation about the future of tech. It’s about the future of storytelling.

Defiance: The Fight for Justice with Janet Alder
1.30pm - 2.10pm, Level -1 Workshop Space 
Join author and activist Janet Alder for a powerful conversation about her groundbreaking new book, Defiance — a fearless account of her decades-long fight for justice following the death of her brother, Christopher Alder, in police custody. Christopher’s death in 1998 remains one of the most disturbing and revealing cases of institutional failure and state cover-up in modern British history. In Defiance, Janet exposes the systems that silenced the truth — and lays bare the personal cost of standing up to them. In conversation with Nikki Adebiyi, Janet will speak about grief, resistance, and what it takes to keep fighting when the odds are stacked against you. This is a story of courage, accountability — and refusing to be silent.

Cave Canem's Poets Corner
Featuring: Malika Booker, Nick Makoha, Dante Micheaux
2.30pm - 3.10pm, Level -1 Workshop Space 

Cave Canem Presents: Malika Booker, Nick Makoha and Dante Micheaux. Join three acclaimed voices in contemporary poetry for an inspiring reading, behind-the-scenes insights, and ways to spark your own creativity. Whether you're an emerging poet or simply curious about the craft, this is a rare chance to learn from some of the most exciting poets working today. Founded in 1996 by Toi Derricotte and Cornelius Eady, Cave Canem has nurtured hundreds of Black poets across the diaspora. In this intimate session, you will discover how poetic form, diasporic identity, and lyrical experimentation shape each writer’s work. Come ready to listen. Come ready to write. Come ready to connect.

Going Viral with BookTok: A TikTok Workshop for Book Lovers
3.30pm - 4.10pm, Level -1 Workshop Space
Want to break into BookTok — or level up your content? Join content creator Coco Omer for a fun, hands-on workshop all about BookTok: TikTok’s global hub for readers, reviewers, and viral book recommendations. Whether you're an author looking to boost your book sales, a publisher building buzz, or a reader wanting to share your latest obsession, this session will show you how to make content that connects. You’ll watch a BookTok video come to life in real time, learn what makes a video pop, and get practical tips on how to tell compelling stories in 60 seconds or less. No dancing required — just a love of books and a willingness to create.

Crafting Cozy Crimes: A Writing Workshop with Mel Pennant
4.30pm - 5.10pm, Level -1 Workshop Space
Murder doesn’t have to be bloody to be brilliant. Join acclaimed author Mel Pennant, creator of A Murder for Miss Hortense, for an immersive writing workshop on the art of cozy crime. Discover how to create memorable amateur sleuths, build charming yet suspenseful settings, and plot twisty mysteries — all without graphic violence. Drawing on her experience writing the sharp and stylish Miss Hortense, Mel will share techniques for crafting tension, deepening character, and finding the perfect balance between lightness and intrigue. Perfect for aspiring writers and crime fans alike, this workshop is your chance to step into the world of cozy crime — where tea is hot, clues are clever, and the stakes are high.

Milton Court is located within the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is approximately a 5 minute walk from the Barbican entrance on Silk Street.

Fountain Room 1 is located on Level G

Fountain Room 2 is located on Level G

Cinema 1 is located on Level -2 (2 mins from Level G)

Pit Theatre is located on Level -2 (2 mins from Level G)

Conservatory Terrace is located on Level 4 (5 mins from Level G)

Frobisher Auditorium 1 is located on Level 4 (7 mins from Level G)

Frobisher Auditorium 2 is located on Level 4 (10 mins from Level G)