"Founded by Selina Brown in 2021, the festival grew out of the children's author's frustration at being told that her book wouldn't sell because there was a Black girl on the cover. Determined to create a space she couldn't find elsewhere, Brown launched the inaugural event as a one-day festival. Five years later, it has expanded into a year-round cultural platform, hosting three major festivals across the UK, opening libraries, collaborating with Glastonbury, and launching a children's book festival headlined by Sir Lenny Henry."
"Black British literature has always been rich, but too often it hasn't been given the platform or investment it deserves, says Brown. The festival exists to change that. The lineup for this year's main event at the Barbican includes Denise Lewis, Marcus Ryder, Jordan Stephens and June Sarpong. The 36-event programme spans everything from political conversations to children's storytelling, as well as panel discussions with leading Black authors and workshops for aspiring writers."
The Barbican foyer will host the Black British Book Festival, bringing wide-ranging Black British storytelling to a large audience. The festival, now in its fifth year, has expanded from a one-day event into Europe's largest celebration of Black literature and a national institution attracting thousands and major publishing names. Selina Brown founded the festival in 2021 after facing rejection over a book cover and launched an inaugural one-day event that has since become a year-round cultural platform. Current activities include three major UK festivals, library openings, a Glastonbury collaboration, and a children's book festival headlined by Sir Lenny Henry. The Barbican programme features 36 events — political conversations, talks on Malcolm X, publishing sessions, children's storytelling, panels with leading Black authors, workshops for aspiring writers, and spaces for readers and writers to meet — aiming to provide platform, investment, and celebration of Black creativity.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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