Love, Loss and Identity – Exploring Black Queer Narratives

Join us for an engaging afternoon with Olumide Popoola, author of Like Water Like Sea, in conversation with Troy Onyango. They will delve into the powerful themes of Popoola's latest novel, exploring mental health, self-discovery, sexuality, love, and complex family dynamics. The event will conclude with an open Q&A session, giving the audience a chance to engage directly with the authors.

About the Speakers:

Olumide Popoola is a Nigerian-German writer based in London, with a diverse body of work spanning novels, plays, short stories, and poetry. Her latest novel, Like Water Like Sea (Cassava Republic Press, May 2024), continues her exploration of complex, multifaceted characters and themes. With a PhD and MA in Creative Writing and a BSc in Ayurvedic Medicine, Popoola brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her work. She has received numerous accolades, including the May Ayim Award in Poetry (2004), and regularly leads creative writing workshops and mentoring schemes, particularly focusing on emerging LGBTQ+ voices.

Troy Onyango is a writer and editor from Kisumu, currently based in London. His acclaimed short stories have appeared in publications like Prairie Schooner, Johannesburg Review of Books, and Transition. His debut collection, For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings (2022), has been widely praised. Onyango has been recognized with several literary awards, including the Nyanza Literary Festival Prize, and has participated in prestigious workshops such as the Caine Prize Workshop and the Miles Morland Workshop. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of Lolwe, a platform for literary voices from Africa and the diaspora.