Olumide Popoola
writer
IN THE PRESS
“
Flamboyant and moving debut novel
DIANA EVANS,
FINANCIAL TIMES
“
Revels in the joy of expression
KWANELE SOSIBO, MAIL AND GUARDIAN
“
When We Speak of Nothing is an Ode to Queer Black life
AINEHI EDORO, BRITTLE PAPER
BIO
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(c) Josimar Senior
Olumide Popoola is a London-based Nigerian German writer and speaker who presents internationally.
Her novella this is not about sadness was published by Unrast Verlag in 2010. Her play Also by Mail was published in 2013 by Witnessed (edition assemblage) and the short story collection breach, which she co-authored with Annie Holmes, in 2016 by Peirene Press.
Her first full-length novel When we Speak of Nothing was published in the UK and Nigeria in 2017 and in 2018 in the US (Cassava Republic Press).
Her publications also include critical essays, narrative essays, creative non-fiction, hybrid pieces and poetry.
In 2004 she won the May Ayim Award in the category Poetry.
Olumide holds a PhD in Creative Writing, a MA in Creative Writing and a BSc in Ayurvedic Medicine. She has lectured in creative writing at various universities and regularly gives workshops and masterclasses.
She has received grants, fellowships and residencies from Grants for the Arts/Arts Council England, UEL, Djerassi, Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, Hedgebrook and Greenwich University, amongst others.
Olumide is on the editorial board of Riptide Journal.
She is the initiator and leader of the Arts Council funded mentoring scheme for emerging LGBTQ+ writers, The Future is Back.
Olumide is currently Associate Lecturer on the post-graduate course Writing for Change, at Central Saint Martins (UAL).
Her novel, The Swimmer, will be published by Cassava Republic Press in 2023.