2021 has been a productive year for African speculative fiction, as noted in the Sci-fi/fantasy list we recently curated for Goodreads. To celebrate this fast growing trend in African literature, Brittle Paper and Radical Books Collective are co-hosting an event to spotlight new works of speculative fiction by African authors. The event is titled Beyond Wakanda: Celebrating New African Speculative Fiction.

The event will take place on November 12. Five authors will talk about their sci-fi/fantasy books in lively conversations moderated by Radical Books founder Bhakti Shringapure, Lizzy Attree, Meg Arenberg, and our Editor-in-Chief Ainehi Edoro.

The featured works are Children of the Quicksands by Efua Traoré (@chickenhousebooks), Seasons in Hippoland by Wanjiku Ngugi (@seagullbooks), Cosmogramma by Courttia Newland (@akashicbooks), Library of the Dead by Tendai Huchu (Macmillan), and Theory of Flight by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu (@catalystpress)

Schedule

11.00am: Welcome from Bhakti Shringarpure

11.05am: “What is African Speculative Fiction?”

Pre-recorded conversation between Ainehi Edoro and Wole Talabi since Wole lives in Malaysia.

11.30am: Wanjiku Ngugi’s in conversation with Bhakti Shringarpure

12.00pm: Siphiwe Ndlovu and Courttia Newland in conversation with Lizzy Attree.

12.45pm: Efua Traoreé in conversation with Ainehi Edoro

1.15pm: Tendai Huchu in conversation with Bhakti Shringarpure

1.45pm: A short collective goodbye — all participants on screen!