Join poet and professor Safiya Sinclair, in conversation with Monique Roffey to celebrate the publication of Safiya’s incredible new memoir, How To Say Babylon.

There was more than one way to be lost, more than one way to be saved.

Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where luxury hotels line pristine white sand beaches, Safiya grew up guarding herself against an ever-present threat. Her father, a volatile reggae musician and strict believer in a militant sect of Rastafari, railed against Babylon, the corrupting influence of the immoral Western world just beyond their gate. As Safiya’s imagination reached beyond its restrictive borders, her burgeoning independence brought with it greater clashes with her ever more radical father. Safiya realised that if she was to live at all, she had to find some way to leave home.

How to Say Babylon is a testament to the forces of hope and imagination that light up every page and an unforgettable story of a young woman’s determination to live life on her own terms. For this touching event, Monique will delve deep into the heart of Safiya's narrative, exploring themes of identity, family, and the power of imagination. Get ready for a riveting exchange that will leave you inspired and enlightened.

“To read it is to believe that words can save.” Marlon James author of A Brief History of Seven Killings

“Her language is distinctive, assured, and a marvel to read.” Cathy Park Hong author of Minor Feelings