bio

Nigerian German author, poet, performer and speaker Olumide Popoola presents internationally, often collaborating with musicians or other artists.

The scope of her work concerns critical investigation into the 'in-between' of culture, language and public space, where a sometimes uncomfortable look at complexity is needed.

As a PhD candidate in Creative Writing at the University of East London she is currently working on a cross-genre trilogy, exploring vernacular and hybrid literary forms. This expands on her interest in cross-genre work which also draws on theory in their conception or execution, and the notion of vernacular or hybrid languages as literary opportunities for social and cultural change.

Olumide holds a BSc in Ayurvedic Medicine and a MA in Creative Writing.

Her work has been published in magazines, newspapers, memoirs and anthologies since 1988 in Germany, Slovenia, South Africa, USA, Sri Lanka, UK and Nigeria. Academic analysis about her work has been published as early as 1999, for instance in "Aufbrüche. Kulturelle Produktionen von Migrantinnen, Schwarzen und jüdischen Frauen in Deutschland" (Ulrike Helmer Verlag 1999, Gelbin, Konuk und Piesche (Ed.).

In 2004 she was awarded the May Ayim Award (Poetry), the first Black International Literature Award in Germany.

Her novella this is not about sadness is her first book-length work of fiction, published by Unrast Verlag in October 2010 through their 'insurrection notes' imprint.

For bookings and full CV please email me