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Best mates Karl and Abu are both 17 and live near King's Cross. It's 2011 and racial tensions are set to explode across London. Abu is infatuated with gorgeous classmate Nalini but dares not speak to her. Meanwhile, Karl is the target of the local "wannabe" thugs just for being different.When Karl finds out his father lives in Nigeria, he decides that Port Harcourt is the best place to escape the sound and fury of London, and connect with a Dad he's never known.Rejected on arrival, Karl befriends Nakale, an activist who wants to expose the ecocide in the Niger Delta to the world, and falls headlong for his feisty cousin Janoma.Meanwhile, the murder of Mark Duggan triggers a full-scale riot in London. Abu finds himself in its midst, leading to a near-tragedy that forces Karl to race back home.The narratorial spirit of this multi-layered novel is Esu, the Yoruba trickster figure, who haunts the crossroads of communication and misunderstanding.When We Speak of Nothing launches a powerful new voice onto the literary stage. The fluid prose, peppered with contemporary slang, captures what it means to be young, black and queer in London. If grime music were a novel, it would be this.
About the author
Olumide Popoola, nigerianisch-deutsche Autorin, Dichterin und Performerin lebt in London wo sie Ayurvedische Medizin und kreatives Schreiben studierte. Als Künstlerin ist sie vor allem an cross-genre Literatur Produktionen, der Überschneidung von Theorie und Kunst, vernacular und hybriden Sprachen interessiert. Dieses erforscht (und produziert) sie als PhD Studentin des kreativen Schreibens. Mit-Herausgeberin der Anthologie 'Talking Home- Heimat aus unser eigenen Feder' (bluemoonpress) und Gewinnerin des May Ayim Awards für Poetry in 2004. Seit 1999 liest und performt sie international, in den letzten Jahren auch als Gastlektorin oder Vortragsrednerin, wo sie zu verschiedenen Aspekten von Literatur, Kultur/ sozialem Leben spricht und aus ihrem Repertoire liest/ performt
Summary
A coming of age novel set against the backdrop of the 2011 London riots, When We Speak of Nothing launches a powerful new voice onto the literary stage. The fluid prose, peppered with contemporary slang, captures what it means to be young, black and queer in London. If grime music were a novel, it would be this.
Additional text
‘This smart novel with electric prose tells us what it means to be young, black and queer in London.’ Elle Magazine
‘Refreshingly original, energetic and ambitious storytelling. Popoola joins the ranks of the best of the powerful new voices invigorating both British and African fiction.’ Bernardine Evaristo, author of Mr Loverman
Report
'This smart novel with electric prose tells us what it means to be young, black and queer in London.' Elle Magazine 'Refreshingly original, energetic and ambitious storytelling. Popoola joins the ranks of the best of the powerful new voices invigorating both British and African fiction.' Bernardine Evaristo, author of Mr Loverman
