Small World by British-Ghanaian author Caleb Azumah Nelson has been optioned for TV. Brock Media, a production company backed by BBC Studios, recently acquired the rights.

Small World is Nelson’s second book and will be published in May. Set in London and Accra, it tells the story of a young man struggling to come to terms with family expectations. Sarah Brocklehurst of Brock Media said she was deeply moved by the story: “I had such a strong emotional response to the book so it’s an honour to have been entrusted with bringing it to the screen.”

Nelson, who won the Costa Awards for his first book Open Water, is excited about the TV adaptation and expressive confidence in Brock Media to do the story justice:

“I’m so excited to be working with Brock Media to bring Small Worlds to the screen. Sarah and her team have showed such energy and enthusiasm toward the book and the emotional response has been palpable. For a novel that is so deeply personal, that is concerned with the community I come from and who have made me who I am today, I’m grateful to have such an invested partner.” —  Worldscreen.com

Nelson will write the film script. BBC Studios will, presumably, distribute the TV show. Nelson is an important voice in African literature today. His debut novel Open Water has been a big hit since it was published in 2021, winning three major awards and shortlisted for others.

With a film option arriving long before the book is out, we can expect that Small World will reprise the success of the first. Congrats to Azumah!