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You know, it’s nice to grab a quick bite when you’re on the go, but nothing beats a home-cooked meal (I’m thinking some ẹgúsí stew and iyán!) Similarly, it’s great that you keep coming back for these bite-sized tales filled with cultural flavour, but sometimes only a full length book will do to savour the real story of this country-hopping life journey. Below are some of the upcoming releases of my book projects, as well as a few previous ones.
**Publications**
Stained Glass Eyes: A Memoir on Race, Family and Multiculturalism
How much do you know about Scottish racism? As a Nigerian born in Scotland, this transformative memoir-polemic of growing up through unexpected adversity tells a universal albeit shocking story in a unique context across two generations in two Scottish cities.
The book will speak to readers of award-winning autoethnographies/polemic-memoirs such as:
*Reni Eddo-Lodge’s ‘Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race’
*Afua Hirsch’s ‘Brit(ish): Race, Identity and Belonging’
*Akala’s ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’
However, whilst those titles are London-centric and contain more sociology than anecdote, mine expands beyond London and contains more personal history than sociology/psychology.
You can view an abridged version of entries (chapters) 1, 2, 3 of the book in 'Unlocking the Story - Part 1' here:
You can view the rest of the abridged version of entries 3, 4 by getting the 'key' for 'Unlocking the Story - Part 2' here.
Free Read: Is Stained Glass Eyes a book you’d be interested in? Why not decide by reading an extract for free? Use the contact form to send your email address and I’ll send you a free pdf of the first chapter. After reading, please write a review of what you thought of the story so far and share your thoughts on social media with the hashtag #SGEmemoir1. Also tag my handles on twitter (@abiodun_abdul01), instagram (@abiodunoa) and facebook (Abiódún Ọlátòkunbò Abdul). I’ll then send updates of the book's progression. When it’s complete, I’ll let you know it’s ready for pre-order.
After winning various poetry awards throughout childhood, I and still enjoy composing poetry focusing as ever on social justice and topics celebrating our common humanity, which have been included in various anthologies.
the other side of hope was created for those who play against all odds, those unsure of every word they write, the frowned upon ones and mostly unwelcomed, the beautiful strangers. It’s a project of understanding, a tiny mirror that reflects those who keep on trying, those who write without hope in the badly lit corners of literature. It’s a project of words that maybe someday will clean a little the great big mirror of life from the slime they throw at our reflections, so that the cruel may be less cruel and the kind kinder.
the other side of hope: journeys in refugee and immigrant literature is a UK-based literary magazine edited by immigrants & refugees. We are proud to be the UK’s first ever literary magazine of Sanctuary, accredited by City of Sanctuary UK.
Welcome to the first edition of 'Other Tongue, Mother Tongue', the bilingual/multilingual poetry supplement of the other side of hope. We have collected 20 poems, in their original language and translation. The translations are often provided by the poets themselves. The themes of the poems span many aspects of the migration journey. Some explore the uncertainties of the road, of being on the move and in-between, whilst some move beyond the immediate network of relationship.
Poem: Original Soundtrack (and French translation)
Audio File: soundcloud link
C’est avec enthousiasme et fierté que Québec en toutes lettres souligne le passage du sous-réseau des villes créatives de littérature UNESCO à l'automne 2023. Afin d’évoquer le caractère international et exceptionnel de l’appartenance à ce sous-réseau, de même que la capacité de reconstruction du tissu social qu’engendrent l’art et la littérature, le festival présente Multivox.
Cette installation sonore multilingue regroupe les voix de poètes de 23 villes créatives de littérature UNESCO. Les textes inédits, créés autour du thème du festival, ont été lus et enregistrés par les poètes elles-mêmes et eux-mêmes dans différentes régions du monde. La conception sonore et musicale de l'œuvre met en valeur les nuances, les rythmes, les couleurs des diverses langues ainsi que les principaux motifs universels qui se sont rejoints dans l'écriture des poèmes: la nature, la mémoire, les lieux, la poésie elle-même.
Composition: The Present Future (creative non-fiction: life writing)
NTU WRAP are giving students and staff across the University another opportunity to become published writers and see themselves in print. Inspired by WRAP featured writer Emilie Pine's Notes to Self, we're asking you to write about a moment, event or experience in your life. Perhaps you've got a family story to tell, about a holiday, occasion or meal. Maybe there's a childhood memory to recall, or something that happened at school, university or work. You could choose to write a note to your past, present or future self. Perhaps you could reflect on time spent with friends, watching the World Cup maybe, going out or playing in a team. All lives are valuable and every experience counts; we are not expecting you to write about being a rocket scientist, unless you are a rocket scientist, that is. Your entry can be sad or uplifting, funny or personal; we will treat your writing with respect.
Anthology: ‘Our Stories Redefined for African Writing 2023: Strange Water (Poetry Edition)’ by Mystery Publications 
Poem: Womanly Waves
E-book: Amazon Kindle link
Book Launch: youtube link
‘Our Stories Redefined’ annual anthology is the vehicle for new-age African writers to tell their stories to a generation that understands them.
In this edition, you discover the vibrant mosaic of poetic brilliance in ‘Strange Water’, a mesmerising collection that transcends the boundaries of time and space. Delve into a genius interlocking of artistry and talent as diverse voices unite to explore the myriad hues of African love, cultures, and the human experience.
With each verse, these gifted poets paint vivid landscapes, echo ancient rhythms, and weave powerful narratives for the African future they wish to see. Let the pages unfold, and your soul be enchanted by this anthology that celebrates the rich tapestry of African storytelling its profound depth, and its boundless resilience in a fight a reclaim its place.
“Oluwale Now is a book of moving poetry, searing prose, beautiful photography, and stunning artwork. This powerful and timely anthology makes the story of David Oluwale visible again, showing how a life cut short by racism can illuminate a path towards a more egalitarian society in the future.” – PROFESSOR BEN CARRINGTON, University of Southern California
Oluwale Now explores the contemporary issues that David Oluwale’s story touches upon through over 40 selections of poetry and prose (including prize-winning submissions from Hannah Stone; Gill Tennant, Gayathiri Kamalakanthan) as well as over 20 featured artworks and photography. Central to this book are the themes of memory, belonging, otherness and optimism. Building upon Remembering Oluwale: An Anthology (edited by SJ Bradley, Valley Press, 2016), this anthology moves through historical and contemporary pain towards hope; there is an upward thrust through Oluwale Now which refuses to deny or sugar-coat the horrors of systematic racism and brutality but allows us a glimpse of a better future.
“An intersectional anthology that imaginatively considers David’s story. Poetic and artistic responses to his tricksterish qualities and his capacities in spite of many inflictions. An absorbing and essential collection which cares to care about Oluwale, and does so deeply.” – MELANIE ABRAHAMS, Hon. FRSL FRSA, Creative Director, Renaissance One
“A powerful, varied, lyrical tribute that mobilises our memory and engages the imagination.” – GARY YOUNGE, journalist, author, broadcaster and academic
Literary Magazine: ‘Robots’ edition by Writers Space Africa 
Composition: Forward Agenda (creative fiction: short story)
Editor’s note: “Prove that you are not a robot.” A familiar phrase, right? When computers began asking us to prove our humanness, it was all fun and games until it slowly dawned on us that the robots could potentially take over. A scary thought to entertain.
The ongoing heated debate on whether or not artificial intelligence will oust humans from their age-long dominance as the most intelligent species is proof enough that human beings have felt shaken. Are we living in the fictitious and horrific world of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein?
This is a unique issue, and as we enter the second half of the year, it is only right to examine what the other half of our lives is infiltrated with: machines and robots. The issue has opened up writers to either shun or embrace artificial intelligence, while some of them remain nonchalant about this new and rapid development. It is also interesting to note that writers in this field have fearlessly tried to explore just how irreplaceable they are, especially in the world of art.
What do you think of robots? Find out what other creatives across the continent feel about them and see if you agree with them. I also assure you that I typed this note with my human hands, and not once did I consider using a robot. Touché!
Poem: Strong Tea
Book Launch: Leeds Literature Festival 2021 link
From the colonial idea of ‘British’ tea; the demasculinising experience of infertility in a Jamaican family; a Black woman being both tourist and tourist attraction on her travels in South Asia, and what it meant to be ‘everybody’s midwife’ in an institutionally racist NHS, through to the experience of an Indian migrant child in the ‘country of 'the oppressor’ -- these are just a few of the themes explored in Weighted Words a new anthology by Peepal Tree Press’ Readers and Writers Group.
Through poetry, short stories, confessionals and memoirs, contributors interrogate race, gender, relationship with self and with family, as well as identity in contemporary Britain. Moments of self-reflection sit alongside longer accounts of familial conflicts, personal struggles, and the enduring repercussions of marginalisation.
Weighted Words includes the work of established poets like Malika Booker, Khadijah Ibrahiim and Sai Murray alongside previously unpublished writers. Here, a dazzling mix of fresh perspectives and backgrounds mesh and complement each other in a powerful collage of individual experiences, giving rise to a rich and wide-ranging anthology.
Poem: Identity: Global Roots
Audio file: soundcloud link
Book launch: youtube link
Loose Connections is the first online playlist (accompanied by a PDF booklet) from the Commonword Identity Writers’ Group. This allows you to hear the writers’ own voices as well as reading their words.
The cover reflects the history of the group, which started in the 1980’s (era of the mix tape), as well as our future, with an online ‘mix tape’ of us reading our words. The title speaks of ‘loose connections’, between families and also between people with histories of migration, and the lands and cultures that we, or our ancestors, moved from. Identity has taken many forms. Sometimes a performance group, reading in local pubs, sometimes a writing/feedback group. And now, during lockdown, we meet online, seeing each other’s faces and writing via screens. Toni Morrison is often quoted as saying "If there’s a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." This is exactly what the writers in Identity are doing – telling the stories we don’t often read, that aren’t often published, but that we definitely need to hear.
Poem: World of Man ('The Story')
Young Writers Regional Poetry Anthology
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