Stephen Embleton

Stephen Reading in Oxford – Weston Library, Bodleian Libraries 2022   We had a successful launch of the James Currey Anthology, which I edited, on Saturday 3 September 2022 at the Weston Library, Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. I read from my Editor’s Introduction to the anthology and gave an overview of each of the contributors' stories and essay, asd well as some insights into the process. On Sale in the Weston Library It was even more special to sign a copy to gift to James Currey himself, and have him sign my own copy. Signing James Currey's copy James Signing My Copy And to have King Bubaraye Dakolo purchase a copy! King Bubaraye Dakolo It was wonderful to have people buying up all the copies and allowing me to sign them.  The Anthology: Amazon Waterstones Blackwells Barnes and Noble As the 2022 James Currey Fellow at the University of Oxford, I was given the privilege of editing an anthology of short stories and essays, launched in paperback only on S...

Fists & Bones & Broken Bricks (Poem) by Stephen Embleton (Aug 2022) I’m going to clench my fist Crush my fingers White my knuckles And bash the brick wall that is in my way. Like a pounding drum, The sound of barriers bending Breaking Powdered bone. Rage at the ruin Wail at the skies Blast a banshee screech And shatter the glass. Release. Release it all Open for the new. Step forward and go! Fists and bricks and broken bones.

I was able to attend Chicon 8 in September 2022 as a virtual guest – a Table Talk session, a Reading session and fortunate to be included on the Afrofuturism Panel with Erin Roberts, Phenderson Djèlí Clark, Stephen Embleton, Wole Talabi (moderator), Yvette Lisa Ndlovu.  #Chicon8 And our panel was featured in the Locus summary of the entire event: https://locusmag.com/2022/10/chicon-8-report-and-2022-wsfs-business-meeting/ Thursday, 1 September 2022:  4:00 PM CDT (10:00 PM BST) Virtual Table Talk - Stephen Embleton  Duration: 60 mins Stephen Embleton, author of the YA fantasy Bones & Runes weaves in African traditional beliefs, mythology and language into his various works. Current University of Oxford Fellow, Stephen focuses on the magical elements featured in many classics of African literature. One of my guests, Somto Ihezue Friday, 2 September 2022  4:00 PM CDT (10:00 PM BST) Beyond Afrofuturism: Steamfunk, Afro-Surrealism, and More Erin Roberts Phenderson Dj...

As the 2022 James Currey Fellow at the University of Oxford, I was given the privilege of editing an anthology of short stories and essays, to be launched in paperback only on September 3rd at the The James Currey Literary Festival. ❤️📖🔥 BACK COVER: In the spirit of James Currey, with his work bringing African writers and their stories to the world, the James Currey Anthology showcases a broad range of literary work, with contributors hailing from Botswana to Nigeria, Ghana to South Africa – writing from the Continent or in the diaspora. These writers transport us into their world today, or in the past, some feeling the effects of love clashing with prejudice; or the devastating portrayal of a lived experience witnessing the terror of tribalism. While historical fiction, used well, gives us perspectives which have long been side-lined in favour of a certain, one-sided narrative. Reflections on parenting and ageing; the intensity and torment of relationships, and toxic environments; t...

The African Writers Series and its contemporary value in the context of 21st Century African fiction. My essay "There is Magic in African Literature" was published in the 2022 University of Oxford, African Studies Centre Newsletter – below is the full version with quotes and more images. ( download here ) I wish to thank Onyeka Nwelue, James Currey and Professor Miles Larmer (and the African Studies Centre) for their support and in facilitating my activities as the James Currey Society Fellow to the University of Oxford in 2022.  After running the 4-week James Currey Society Writing & Publishing Workshop at the African Studies Centre, my time culminated in a lecture event on 14 February 2022 . Opened by Onyeka Nwelue, and leading a Q&A with James Currey on his life and legacy with the African Writers Series, Professor Larmer then introduced me for my lecture to members of the audience – both in the lecture theatre as well as virtually online. Questions had already be...

NEW MEDIA. OLD BIASES: THE AFRICA WE DON'T SEE  23 June 2022. We kicked off our discussion with JJ Omojuwa at the African Studies Centre (University of Oxford), with a quote from JJ's book's dedication: To the struggling African, things will not become easier; you must learn to be better, everyday. Soon, you will thrive, prosper and conquer. Remember to take others along when you do. JJ Omojuwa With around 15 of us, Onyeka Nwelue made introductions and we asked those attending to introduce themselves and their backgrounds. I then introduced JJ Omojuwa in relation to my own media background: When I came to the internet in the mid-nineties, it was very much the wild west. Everybody was putting anything they wanted to onto the internet, saying what they wanted to, so there was a time when there was absolute freedom of information flowing. And then, we come into the 2000s and governments start getting involved, they are seeing the potential and so we were having this battle bet...