Irenosen Okojie – Black to the Future

Busy Being Black

I’m thrilled to share this conversation with British Nigerian writer and curator Irenosen Okojie, which was recorded at the Garden Cinema in London after a private viewing of Blitz Bazawule’s new musical adaption of The Color Purple. Our conversation was one of many events that took place as part of Irenosen’s Black to the Future festival, an afrofuturist celebration of outstanding Black artists and a growing space for visionary imaginings to thrive.

We explore why The Color Purple aligns with Irenosen’s notions of afrofuturism; the lessons we can learn from characters within the novel and the musical about Black hope, family and love; and the ways Black queer people across space and time continue to live, by example, the futures we deserve to inhabit together.

Thank you to our friends at Warner Bros, The Royal Society of Literature and The Garden Cinema for making this conversation with Irenosen possible.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices