Tokunbo: Conversations with Nigerian Storytellers in the Diaspora

Episode 10: Kola Tubosun in Conversation with Jola Naibi

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2449975/open_sms] Kola Tubosun is a Nigerian poet, linguist, writer, translator, publisher, and documentary filmmaker. He is the curator of YorubaName.com, the first crowd-sourced dictionary of Yoruba names. His published work include Esu at the Library, Edwardsville by Heart, and Igba Ewe: Translated Poems of Emily R. Grosholz. He recently directed Ebrohimie Road, a documentary focusing on the small bungalow on the campus of the University of Ibadan that played a strong role in the life and work of Wole Soyinka. In this conversation with Jola Naibi, for the Tokunbo podcast series, he discusses the role of translation in storytelling, and how it contributes to preserving and sharing Nigerian narratives globally.

Episode 9: Sefi Atta in Conversation with Jola Naibi

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2449975/open_sms] Sefi Atta is a Nigerian-American novelist, short story writer, playwright, and screenwriter. Her books include Every Good Thing Will Come, A Bit of Difference, The Bead Collector, The Bad Immigrant, and Swallow which was made into a Netflix movie. Her upcoming book Indigene will be released in the summer of 2025. In this conversation with Jola Naibi, for the Tokunbo podcast series, she talks about telling a coherent story by conjuring the images in Lagos while living in the diaspora and the future of collaboration between the Nigerian literary community (at home and abroad) and Nollywood.

Episode 8: Ikhide Ikheloa in Conversation with Jola Naibi

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2449975/open_sms] Ikhide Ikheloa, fondly referred to as Pa Ikhide, is a U.S.-based Nigerian writer and literary critic who is known for sharing his strong opinions on Nigerian literature and politics on social media. During this conversation with Jola Naibi, for the Tokunbo podcast series, he talks about what it means to observe and write about Nigeria from abroad while striking the balance between critique and celebration in his commentary.

Episode 7: Yejide Kilanko in Conversation with Jola Naibi

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2449975/open_sms] Yejide Kilanko is a Nigerian-born writer based in Canada. She has written novels, poetry, short fiction, and children’s picture books, including, Daughters Who Walk This Path, Chasing Butterflies, There is an Elephant in My Wardrobe, and Juba and the Fireball. Her short story, This Tangible Thing, was shortlisted for the 2023 Caine Prize Her latest children’s book is The Other Side of Small. In this conversation with Jola Naibi, for the Tokunbo Podcast Series, she explores her roots as a writer, the unique perspectives that Nigerians in the diaspora bring to African writing, and the role of fiction in empowering individuals and communities to confront difficult realities.

Episode 6: Wole Talabi in Conversation with Jola Naibi

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2449975/open_sms] Wole Talabi is an engineer, writer, and editor. His work includes two short story collections - Incomplete Solutions and Convergence Problems, and the critically-acclaimed novel, Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon. His short story, Unquiet on the Eastern Front was recently published by Subterranean Press. His work has been shortlisted for and received numerous awards. In this conversation with Jola Naibi, for the Tokunbo podcast series, he talks about how he blends Nigerian speculative elements and brings Yoruba culture into the wider universe of storytelling.