Jacaranda to launch non-fiction series celebrating Black British culture

Jacaranda Books is to publish a non-fiction book series dedicated to celebrating and exploring Black British culture, created by writer and publisher Magdalene Abraha (pictured).

Thought to be the first series of its kind, the eight books in the A Quick Ting On series explore subjects ranging from Afrobeats and Grime to the Black British power movement, and plantains to Black fashion and hair.

Each title in the series is written by a leading young Black British voice, including broadcaster and host of Channel 4’s "How Not To Be Racist" Chanté Joseph, theatre and film producer and writer Tobi Kyeremateng, entrepreneur Tskenya-Sarah Frazer and journalist and activist Franklyn Addo. The full list of authors also includes Zainab Kway-Swanzy, Rui Da Silva and Sophia Tassew. The books will be released from October 2021 into 2022. 

The titles in the series are: A Quick Ting On: Afrobeats by Christian Adofo (7th October 2021); followed by Plantain by Rui Da Silva (22nd October 2021); Black British Power Movement by Chanté Joseph (28th October 2021); The Black Girl Afro by Zainab Kway-Swanzy (4th November 2021); Black British Businesses by Tskenya-Sarah Frazer (12th November 2021); Theatre Sh*t by Tobi Kyeremateng (19th November 2021); and, with release dates still to be confirmed in 2022, Grime by Franklyn Addo and Bamboo Earrings by Sophia Tassew.

A Quick Ting On was commissioned by Abraha, who reached out to her friends over WhatsApp and persuaded them to write a book for the series on one of their passions. A writer, curator and award-winning publisher, she appeared on The Bookseller’s Rising Star list 2019 and was awarded the LBF Trailblazer award 2020 for her contribution to publishing. She continues to write for various publications including the Economist, the Guardian, i, and Stylist, among others. She also sits on the editorial board of Book Machine, working to bridge the gap between aspiring creatives and the publishing industry. 

She said: “A Quick Ting On is about archiving the rich cultural landscape of Black Britain both past and present in an exciting and contemporary way.  It is about providing a space for Black British writers to pay homage to the ideas, the moments that mean something to them. The series is digestible, relatable and important.”