About Aniefiok Ekpoudom:
Aniefiok ‘Neef’ Ekpoudom is a writer and storyteller from South London whose work documents community and culture in contemporary Britain. His debut book Where We Come From: Rap Home and Hope in Modern Britain is a social history of British Rap. It was released via Faber & Faber in January 2024. As a journalist, he writes long-form essays and profiles for The Guardian, GQ and more. From charting a history of Black Football culture in South London to mapping the forces of migration and music that formed J Hus, his writing weaves social, cultural and narrative history to explore the current, lived realities of peoples across the UK.
Summary:
In this episode, we discuss the social history of Britain through the lens of British rap with a focus on South London, Wales and the West Midlands; migration, music and belonging through the lens of the Windrush generation; resilience, adversity and hope in the UK rap scene; community through pirate radio; how British rap reshapes and remakes a sense of home and belonging for Black British communities back then and today; vulnerability through music and mental health; the importance of diverse social archives; the importance of creativity in crafting a deeper sense of belonging; and how the music gives us hope.
References:
Where We Come From: Rap, Home and Hope in Modern Britain by Aniefiok Ekpoudom
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Follow Aniefiok:
Website: https://aniefiokekpoudom.com/
IG: @Aniefiokekp
X: @AniefiokEkp
Credits
Photo of Aniefiok by Blaow
Our theme music is by Alix Julian Edwards
Our branding is by Somewhere Off Grid
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