Black Writing, Bold Futures: Dr Kadija Sesay on Activism, Archives, and Technology - Ep 29

Dr Kadija George Sesay has spent decades championing Black writers, preserving overlooked stories, and building Pan-African literary networks that stretch across continents. In this rich conversation, I sit down with her to explore what it really means to decolonise the bookshelf and ensure that our stories are not only published, but preserved for future generations.

Kadija speaks about founding Sable LitMag, curating festivals such as the International Black Speculative Writing Festival, and her extensive work with radical independent presses. She explains how Pan-Africanism operates in practice, why independent publishing and ownership are crucial, and how collective memory and community gatherings help us keep our histories alive.

We also discuss how technology, online platforms, and now AI can support preservation and access without losing the heart of the work. Kadija shares her excitement about her upcoming Fulbright journey to the United States, her ongoing research into Black publishers and Pan-Africanism, and what she hopes future readers and scholars will discover about the Black writing emerging today.

If you care about literature, archives, cultural memory, or how our stories survive in a rapidly changing world, this episode offers a powerful and generous masterclass.

 

If you enjoyed the episode, consider sharing it with someone who loves books, archives, or Black history.

 

Connect with Kadija

• LinkedIn:

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kadija-sesay-00323b4/

• Interview on Africa in Words:

  https://africainwords.com/2022/03/23/qa-scholar-activist-kadija-sesay-on-afripoetree/

• Review of the International Black Speculative Writing Festival (Vector Magazine):

  https://vector-bsfa.com/2024/02/27/review-of-the-international-black-speculative-writing-festival-2024/

 

Connect with me

• About me:

  https://stellaonithewriter.com/about/

• Podcast website:

  https://talkingtechwithcreatives.com/episodes

• Substack:

  https://stellaoni.substack.com/

• YouTube:

  https://www.youtube.com/@TalkingTechWithCreatives

• LinkedIn:

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/stella-oni-065788140/

Thank you for reading and listening. I hope this episode leaves you thinking about your own role in preserving stories, and the ways you can share what you know with the people coming after you.

 ISSN 2978-8307