TOTTENHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2024
11 November - 17 November
A bold festival of words right here in Tottenham.
The Bernie Grant Arts Centre’s Tottenham Literature Festival is back! Now in its sixth year, our brilliant festival returns with a joyous celebration of captivating stories by Black authors, poets, and artists from Tottenham and beyond. This year’s theme is “Black Imaginations”.
Special Announcement:
We’re thrilled to announce our Artist in Residence for this year is the award-winning poet, Victoria Adukwei Bulley. Victoria will deliver a workshop and keynote on Saturday, 16 November, as part of the Main Festival Afternoon Pass.
Tuesday 12 November, 7:30pm – 9pm
Zeinab Badawi in Conversation
BOOK NOW
International broadcast journalist Zeinab Badawi discusses her debut book An African History of Africa with journalist Paula Akpan. Together they’ll dive into the power of Africans re-telling the diverse continent’s history and independence, how long lasting myths around Africa inform our world today and the importance of correcting that narrative. Join us for this unique opportunity to hear from these trailblazing women as they share their meditations, research and insights. Book your tickets now. This event will be BSL interpreted.
Wednesday 13 November
School’s Day
A full day of workshops for 3 primary schools reached out to by BGAC. They will be working with 3 different poetry artists throughout the day to learn new skills and techniques and also get a chance to showcase their work to other schools in the Haringey borough.
Friday 15 November, 11am – 1pm
ONLINE MASTERCLASS: Writing for Young Readers
Join award-winning writer and playwright Danielle Jawando for an inspiring and interactive masterclass about writing for young people. What are the essentials in creating a believable, imaginative and successful tale that engages young readers? Writers curious or experienced will acquire tools and techniques for writing for children and young adults. In partnership with Arvon at Home. Limited bursaries are available for Black writers in Tottenham and Haringey, apply here. Don’t miss this chance to elevate your craft. Secure
your spot now!
Friday 15 November, 7:30pm – 9pm
An Evening with Diane Abbott, hosted by Bernardine Evaristo
Join us for a very special evening as two icons come together for an unforgettable event; Diane Abbott, the first Black woman ever elected to Parliament, will delve into the powerful stories behind her brilliant memoir, A Woman Like Me, in conversation with Bernardine Evaristo, the first Black woman to win the Booker Prize, who’s books include Girl, Woman, Other; Manifesto: On Never Giving Up, and Mr Loverman, which is screening on BBC1 iPlayer this autumn.
Saturday 16 November, 10:30am – 2pm (all events are included in the morning pass)
BOOK NOW
Dr Ronx’s How to Save a Life, 10.30am – 11.15am
Enjoy an interactive reading of How to Save a Life by Dr Ronx, TV presenter on CBBC’s Operation Ouch!. Dr Ronx will lead the reading, bringing the story to life while encouraging children and families to join in with exciting activities and discussions about health and well-being. This event is suitable for all ages, and it’s a fantastic way to spark young imaginations and inspire future generations of heroes. Tickets are available, so don’t wait—grab yours today.
Kelechi Okafor’s Strong Like Me, 12pm – 12:45pm
Do you know all the things that make YOU strong? Come and join Kelechi Okafor for a family fun and interactive reading of her debut picture book Strong Like Me. This is a wonderful opportunity for children and families to discover and celebrate the strength we all have inside. Suitable for ages 3+. Tickets available as part of the Saturday Family Day pass.
Jump Up! A Story of Carnival Workshop, 1pm – 2:00pm
Bring the whole family for a one-of-a-kind creative workshop led by award-winning author and illustrator Ken Wilson-Max! Together, you’ll dive into imaginative activities, learning storytelling and illustration techniques that make creating characters and worlds fun and accessible for all ages. Perfect for parents and kids to bond and spark creativity together, this workshop is a wonderful opportunity to learn, laugh, and bring your stories to life as a family.
BOOK NOW
Saturday 16 November, 1:30pm – 6pm (all events are included in the afternoon pass)
We will be hosting an afternoon of panel discussions and workshops delving into what we mean by ‘Black Imaginations’ featuring exemplary writers, speakers, activists, performers and artists. Each panel will showcase a commissioned performance from a Deaf creative, curated by Deaffest. These events will be BSL interpreted.
BOOK NOW
Panel 1: Black Ballad and Irenosen Okojie, 1:30pm – 2:45pm
Join us for an exciting celebration of the 10th anniversary of Black Ballad, the unique digital platform telling stories for, by and about Black women. Hosted by Jendella Benson, author and Head of Editorial, this event promises laughter, engaging conversations, and bookish delights. Featuring the award-winning author Irenosen Okojie (Butterfly Fish and Curandera), kicking off the panel talk is Deaf creative DJ Inigo, who will set the stage with a powerful, immersive experience. Come be part of this celebration – let’s toast to the next chapter together!
Workshop with Artist in Residence Victoria Adukwei Bulley, 2pm – 4pm
A bespoke workshop led by our Artist in Residence, Victoria Adukwei Bulley. Delve into a unique exploration of poetic form and narrative techniques with this acclaimed poet and writer. Experience hands-on exercises and personalised feedback, crafted to ignite your creativity. Don’t miss this rare chance to learn from a master. Limited spaces, sign up forms on the day.
A word from Victoria:
‘I’m honoured to be this year’s Artist-in-Residence for Tottenham Lit Fest 2024, for which the theme is Black Imaginations. Nothing could be closer to my heart than the question of how we dream and what our dreams make possible. I look forward to doing the work of imagining alongside you.’
Victoria Adukwei Bulley invites us to consider TLF’s theme of Black Imaginations in her Artist in Residence keynote lecture. Drawing from her poetic meditations and writings in her debut award-winning collection Quiet we reflect on the power of our inner worlds. Her lecture will follow an audience Q&A chaired by Marcelle Mateki Akita. This event will be BSL interpreted.
Saturday 16 November, 7:30pm – 9pm
R.A.P. Party
BOOK NOW
Be part of the celebration! Join the R.A.P. party for a thrilling fusion of literature, poetry and music. Founded by Inua Ellams, this event feels like a house party featuring special guests each performing their work, followed by a live DJ. Celebrate the end of the festival with us and experience the magic of rhythm and prose. Full lineup will be announced soon. Book your party ticket here.
Tickets and Accessibility:
At BGAC, we believe everyone deserves access to brilliant art and events. That’s why we offer discounted ticketing options across all of our in-house programmes of festivals and events. We want to make sure there is no barrier for you to see great work. This means for events and shows that we organise ourselves, we will always aim to provide discounted ticket options. For events presented by external promoters at our venue, we will encourage them to offer accessible tickets, however, the ticket pricing is determined by them.
Stay Updated:
The full line-up of authors, evening & weekend talks will be announced soon. Be the first to hear festival announcements and learn how to get involved by volunteering. Sign up to our newsletter.