This Saturday in the wonderful Exmouth market, situated in the basement of cute Caribbean restaurant Cottons, you will find the Black Book Swap. Don't be put off by the word ‘black’ being put before ‘book swap’ – this event is not for black people only and is rather a celebration of black authors who often fall below the radar of mainstream literary recognition, as well as space to share the love of reading.
Last year saw Harper Collins newcomer Chibundu Onuzo launch her book The Spider King’s Daughter and this year promises to be just as fruitful. The book swap is an intimate continuous affair helped along by panel discussions with a number of black authors. Included in this list is one of Africa’s rising stars in the world of literature, Noo Saro-Wiwa (daughter of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa), who will walk us through her book and travelogue Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria.
Also gracing the stage will be international bestseller Dorothy Koomson, discussing her latest offering The Rose Petal Beach, as well as acclaimed Caribbean writer Andrea Stuart, author of Sugar in the Blood. So if you’re a book lover and have something lying around that you want to pass on, here is your chance. If you don’t have anything lying around go anyway, you might pick up something instead.
By Femi Fagunwa
Black Book Swap runs Saturday 17th November from 12pm-5.30pm at Cottons, 70 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QP. Tickets £5.
