ABOUT THE BOOK

Mama Can’t Raise No Man is Robyn Travis’ debut novel and unfolds through a series of letters between a colorful cast of characters and the main protagonist, Duane, who despite his efforts to turn his life around, once again finds himself in prison. This time it’s on charges of intent to supply drugs and domestic violence, but things are not as clear-cut as they seem.

Mama Can’t Raise No Man is a unique and eye-opening exploration of black masculinity. Brimming with intelligent and thought provoking ideas, it cleverly challenges different definitions of manhood, whilst remaining an engaging, witty and at times laugh-out-loud-funny novel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robyn is author of Prisoner to the Streets and Mama Can’t Raise No Man which had a huge impact on publication and garnered much interest across a wide readership. The book launched to a packed out Hackney Empire and quickly sold out. Robyn is a passionate speaker and advocate for young people and regularly uses his own life experiences to try and teach, educate, and inspire younger generations.

VIDEO FROM THE LAUNCH OF MAMA CAN’T RAISE NO MAN

NEWS/PRESS

Audible have bought rights to Mama Can’t Raise No Man.

You can now enjoy the many characters and vibrant voices of the novel in audio format with narrator Adjoa Andoh (narrator of books by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Malorie Blackman) voicing all the female characters and Damian Lynch (narrator of audiobooks such as The Secret Footballer series) voicing all the male characters.

Click the image to hear a sample of the audiobook.

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Mama Can’t Raise No Man is the only debut novel to be published by a Black British Male in 2016. Click below to read the full Guardian article

 

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Mama Can’t Raise No Man book launch sells out 1300 capacity Hackney Empire and sells over 600 advanced tickets. Click below image for full article

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Robyn Travis attends Cheltenham Literary Festival and copies of Mama Can’t Raise No Man sell out in the book signing after his event. Below he’s featured with poet and author Salena Godden

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Robyn Travis appears on London Live TV talking about Mama Can’t Raise No Man

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UPCOMING EVENTS

On Track Festival- Your Weakness Is Your Strength

ABOUT THE BOOK

Jean starts at a new school and struggles to fit in. He develops an unlikely friendship with rowdy class mate James, who gets him into a string of sticky situations; fights, theft, and more. At home, his parents, Mami and Papa, who fled political violence in Congo under the dictatorial regime of Le Marechal, to seek asylum as refugees – which Jean and his star-student little sister, Marie, have no knowledge of – pressure him to focus on school and sort his act out. Jean is then suspended, and Marie, who usually gets on his nerves, helps him keep his secret, which draws them closer together.

As the family attempts to integrate and navigate modern British society, as well as hold on to their roots and culture, they meet Tonton, a sapeur, womaniser, alcohol-loving, party enthusiast, who, much to Papa’s dislike, after losing his job, moves in with them. Tonton introduces the family – via his church where colourful characters such as Pastor Kaddi, Patricia and Nadege congregate – to a familiar community of fellow country-people, making them feel slightly less alone. They begin to settle, but the reality of their situation unravels a threat to their future, whilst the fear of uncertainty remains.

With colourful characters and luminous prose, No Place To Call Home is a tale of belonging, identity and immigration, of hope and hopelessness, of loss –not by death, but by distance– and, by no means the least, of love.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JJ BOLA is a Kinshasa born, London raised writer, poet, educator and workshop facilitator. He performs regularly at shows and festivals around the world. JJ Bola’s work is centred on a narrative of empowerment, humanisation, healing of trauma as well as discovery of self through art, literature and poetry. He believes that the true purpose of art is to expose the reality of this world and how to, most importantly, survive it. No place To Call Home is JJ Bola’s debut novel.

VIDEOS

Video from the launch of No Place To Call Home

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JJ Bola in conversation with actress Cate Blanchett in Switzerland for the UN Refugee Agency

NEWS/PRESS

No Place To Call Home picked as one of Media Diversified Top 15 Books published in 2017

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JJ Bola takes us back to his childhood home and tells us why, as a refugee, he always felt like one of the bad guys from the movies in this personal account on the BBC World Service ‘The Cultural Frontline’ radio programme: 14:40 minutes in

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No Place To Call Home long listed for The Guardian ‘Not The Booker Prize’

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UPCOMING EVENTS

JJ Bola Performing at Tongue Fu | Rich Mix

JJ Bola TEDx Exeter Talk

JJ Bola @ The Berlin Africa Festival

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Moments of Significance is a non-linear narrative packed with poetry, prose, fragments of memories and mediations on life, philosophy and politics from an uncompromising voice. Told through Shauna’s personal experiences of growing up on an inner-city London council estate as a white Working Class Queer woman, Moments of Significance is an exploration of society and the political told through a very personal collage of experiences.

With accounts from Shauna’s childhood poverty to the devastating family revelation in Ireland; being bullied on her estate for being a Lesbian to finding Buddhism, coping with the death of her mother to piecing together an identity through hip hop, poetry and art, Shauna reinvents the way memoirs are written and through this collection of life moments reveals layers of herself to slowly build a unique relationship with the reader.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MC Angel is a talented wordsmith performing as a spoken word artist and hip hop emcee as well as writing page poetry. She has been filmed by Red Bull TV, BBC3 and Channel 4 for the “Women in Hip Hop” project. She’s appeared on BBC 1xtra Live Lounge as part of their spoken word season and has performed up and down the country at festivals including Latitude, Secret Garden Party and Drop Beats Not Bombs. She is currently the resident MC for Morning Gloryville, a sober movement which has seen her share the stage with the likes of Fat Boy Slim and Basement Jaxx.

VIDEOS/PHOTOS

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NEWS/PRESS

BUY

Moments of Significance is now available to buy here

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please check back for upcoming events soon.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Time Before The Time To Come is a wonderful story within stories inspired by Jill’s Maori heritage. Set between London and New Zealand and intertwining past and present, we follow Victoria’s path of self-discovery as she unwraps layers of her past and tries to make sense of her present. As we journey with her family over many generations, we discover the traditions, legends, values and beliefs of the ancient Maori culture. The Time Before The Time To Come beautifully encapsulates the family ties that exist from one generation to the next and explores the significance of holding on to your roots and culture as a way of not letting go of yourself. A brilliantly crafted novel that opens a window into Maori culture, with strong women, epic journeys and heartbreaking revelations, The Time Before The Time to Come is at its core a book of hope. Made all the more powerful by the fact that it’s based on Jill’s own family, this is a novel that will stay with you long after you put it down.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jill Johnson has lived in South East Asia, Europe and New Zealand. She has owned an editorial cartoon gallery, a comic shop and has been involved in a graphic novel publishing house. She is an alumni of The Faber Academy writing school and now lives in the East End of London with her children. Jill’s writing is inspired by her Maori heritage.

NEWS/PRESS

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The Time Before The Time To Come will be available to buy on pre-order soon.

UPCOMING EVENTS

There are currently no upcoming events. Please check back soon.