Jimi Famurewa, Derek Owusu and Aniefiok Ekpoudom reflect on what it means to build a life as a Black male writer in Britain today.
This stimulating conversation, hosted by Natty Kasambala, brings together three dynamic voices – Jimi Famurewa, Derek Owusu and Aniefiok Ekpoudom – to ask, what does it mean to build a life as a Black male writer in Britain today?
From Derek Owusu’s genre-blurring fiction and poetry, to Jimi Famurewa’s cultural criticism and memoir, to Aniefiok Ekpoudom’s deeply researched social history; these writers have produced work exploring many aspects of British life and culture. They’ll explore how journalism, memoir, fiction, social history and cultural commentary intersect with community and identity; and how different disciplines can allow for different truths, hosted by Natty Kasambala.
Reflecting on their varied paths, they’ll discuss what it takes to navigate a creative career in the contemporary British cultural landscape.
Natty Kasambala photo credit: (C) Vonny Lorde.
About Deptford Literature Festival
Deptford Literature Festival takes place each March and celebrates the diversity and creativity of Deptford and Lewisham through words, stories and performance. It is run by London Writers Centre in a collaboration with independent producer Tom MacAndrew, with support from the Albany, Deptford Lounge and Lewisham Libraries. The festival is part of our campaign to make Lewisham the UK’s first Borough of Literature. You can find out more about Deptford Literature Festival and see the full festival programme at: deptfordlitfest.com
Aniefiok ‘Neef’ Ekpoudom is a writer from London. His work documents varying cultures and communities across contemporary Britain.
His first book Where We Come From: Rap, Home & Hope in Modern Britain was a social history of British Rap, spanning from the 60s to present day. Released by Faber in 2024 it was a Dazed and Granta Book of the Year, and was shortlisted for the 2025 Jhalak Prize.
Aniefiok writes for, The Guardian, GQ & more. His work has been published in a range of anthologies including A New Formation and Keish the Sket (#MerkyBooks) SAFE (Hachette) and Free Wheeling (Daunt Books).
He is a British Journalism Award winner and was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List.
Jimi Famurewa is an award-winning restaurant critic, author, broadcaster, and journalist who has written for publications including the Guardian, GQ and the Evening Standard, where he was the food critic. Jimi appears as a regular guest judge on MasterChef and was a judge on The Great Cookbook Challenge with Jamie Oliver.
Derek Owusu is an award-winning writer and poet from North London. He has written for the BBC, ITV, Granta, Esquire, GQ and Tate Britain. He has published three novels, and in 2023 was selected as one of Granta’s best of young British novelists.
Natty Kasambala is a London-based writer, director and strategist, curious about all things arts, culture and human. Previously Music Editor At-Large at Dazed, her work has appeared in titles including Vogue, i-D, The Face, The Guardian and Evening Standard and been published by Harper Collins and Hachette.
This year, the festival is running with limited public or charitable support. We have brought in a ticket price of £3 for the majority of the events to help cover some of the festival costs.
Children’s and family events are free for parents, guardians and carers. Tickets must be purchased for children. Parents, guardians carers must stay with their child/ children during the event.
Carers can attend for free. When booking your ticket, you can add a free carers ticket to your basket.
Six of the festival events are free to attend: Lewisham Libraries Celebrates Local Writers (Saturday 21 March), The Goldsmiths Prize Presents: Kate Briggs In Conversation (Wednesday 25 March), Poetry in the Library (Thursday 26 March) and on the festival day – Saturday 28 March: Lewisham Writers’ Link Up, Lewisham Writes: Writing the Seasons, and CRIPtic x London Writers Centre Salon.
As far as possible, by booking a ticket we ask that you commit to attending, as places for in-person events are limited. If you can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket so someone else can come along. Refunds on paid for tickets will be given up toTuesday 24 March 2026.
You can manage your ticket/s by clicking on the ‘manage tickets’ link at the end of your booking confirmation email.
Three of our in-person events on the festival day (Saturday 28 March) will have BSL Interpretation in-place for audiences that require it: South London in Fiction; Mother Tongue: Poetry, Family and Inheritance; and Navigating Culture: Black Male Writers on Britain Today.
BSL interpretation is available on request for all other festival day (Saturday 28 March) events. If you require this, please book a ticket by Friday 6 March, and request BSL interpretation as you book. We will then arrange for this to be put in place.
All festival venues are wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets.
The festival hub on Saturday 28 March, Deptford Lounge, has Changing Place facilities, an induction loop and assistance dogs are welcome. For more information: deptfordlounge.org.uk/access
If you require assistance on the festival day itself, Saturday 28 March, please come to the Festival Hub in the foyer of Deptford Lounge where we will be happy to help you.
If you require additional access provision in order to attend or take part in the festival, for example, larger print handouts at workshops, or a scribe, please get in touch before the festival day at: festival@londonwriterscentre.org.uk
Deptford Literature Festival celebrates local talent and introduces exciting new writers from Lewisham and nearby boroughs. We want to be able to continue to offer our workshops, readings, events and community projects at a low cost. We do not want finances to be a barrier to anyone taking part. If you are in a position to make a donation, please give a gift today. Anything you give will help more people come to future festivals.
BSL Interpretation
