A Momentous Evening: Ben Okri and Margaret Busby at The Africa Centre
On May 6, 2025, an air of excitement enveloped The Africa Centre in London as Nigerian-born Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri engaged in a stimulating conversation with Ghanaian publisher Margaret Busby. The occasion marked the launch of African Stories, an anthology curated by Okri, featuring 36 luminous tales drawn from the rich tapestry of African literature. Published as part of the Everyman’s Pocket Classics, this collection aims to showcase voices from across the continent.
Crafting a Literary Mosaic
During their lively exchange, Okri shared insights into his meticulous process of selecting authors for the anthology. Known for his Booker Prize-winning novel, The Famished Road, Okri articulated that his choices were grounded in "excellence, mastery of form, and wide representation" of literary talents within Africa. He humorously acknowledged the time constraints that led him to focus on established writers: “By the time I was done there was no time for contemporaries. We must respect our elders.” This reverence for seasoned authors reflects Okri’s commitment to preserving the sanctity of African literary heritage.
The Significance of the Short Story
A central theme of the evening was the intrinsic value of the short story in African culture. Okri passionately articulated, “What is it about the African short story? It is intrinsically poetic, discursive, and essayistic.” He posited that the short story form resonates deeply with the continent’s oral traditions, where storytelling was often a communal experience, rich with moral lessons. “Our mothers couldn’t spend all day telling us novels, so stories had to be compressed into short stories,” he quipped, eliciting laughter from the audience.
A Celebration of Craftsmanship
As the conversation unfurled, it became evident that both Okri and Busby shared a profound appreciation for the art of storytelling. Busby, renowned for her anthologies Daughters of Africa and New Daughters of Africa, deftly facilitated a discussion that illuminated Okri’s relationship with the short story form. He declared, “I have a passion for the short story," highlighting its unique capacity to distill complex themes into concise narratives. Okri’s early collection, Incidents at the Shrine, paved the way for his literary journey, underlining his longstanding connection to the genre.
Voices of Power and Legacy
A particularly intriguing moment came when Okri discussed the inclusion of Jomo Kenyatta’s story in the anthology. Kenyatta, who was the first Prime Minister and President of independent Kenya, symbolizes the intersection of literature and power. “I have come to realise that there is a relationship between short stories and power. But that is another story,” Okri mused, inviting the audience to ponder the broader implications of storytelling in shaping societies.
Highlights of Representation
An important aspect of the anthology raised by Busby was the representation of women writers. With 36 stories contributed by 36 authors, she pointedly asked, “How many are women?” The anthology features eight female storytellers, including Nobel laureates Nadine Gordimer and Doris Lessing, alongside prominent voices like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Bessie Head. Okri’s response stressed his desire to amplify established voices. “That’s a slightly tilted question and an unfair one,” he noted, emphasizing his aim to honor literary giants and celebrate the African spirit globally.
A Night to Remember
The evening culminated in a heartwarming acknowledgment of Ben Okri’s contributions to African literature with the presentation of the “Icon of The Africa Centre” award by Oba Nsugbe, chair of the center. This moment not only celebrated Okri’s literary achievements but also highlighted the growing recognition and appreciation of African storytelling on the global stage.
Through this event, both Ben Okri and Margaret Busby illuminated the dynamic, diverse, and rich landscape of African literature, inviting attendees to cherish the power of storytelling and its essential role in cultural expression and legacy.
