Ahead of the BBBF this weekend, authors who’ll be in attendance explain the crisis in publishing of Black writing, and why coming together is the solution
O
n Sunday morning, the Barbican’s vast concrete foyer will swap its usual quiet for a buzz of conversation and excitement, and a particular kind of cultural energy: Black British storytelling in all its multiplicity.
Now in its fifth year, the Black British book festival (BBBF) has become Europe’s largest celebration of Black literature. What began as a small, intimate gathering has grown into a national institution attracting thousands of attendees and some of the biggest names in publishing.
Founded by Selina Brown in 2021, the festival grew out of the children’s author’s frustration at being told that her book wouldn’t sell because there was a Black girl on the cover. Determined to create a space she couldn’t find elsewhere, Brown launched the inaugural event as a one-day festival. Five years later, it has expanded into a year-round cultural platform, hosting three major festivals across the UK, opening libraries, collaborating with Glastonbury, and launching a children’s book festival headlined by Sir Lenny Henry.
