Shani Akilah – A Glittering New Voice in the Literary Firmament
Described as “a glittering new voice in the literary firmament”, Shani Akilah has made an impressive entry into the writing scene with her first book, For Such a Time as This. Raised in a Christian family, this talented writer and screenwriter from South London has a passion for writing that started at the tender age of four, due to her parents’ love of academia. In For Such a Time as This, Shani, a master’s graduate, explores the quintessence of the Black British experience and different facets of today’s friendship groups through her thought-provoking storytelling.
Lawrencia Nelson spoke with Shani about her writing journey; why she believes community is still important in today’s culture; and the role of faith in her life.
LAWRENCIA NELSON (LN): Congratulations on your debut book, For Such a Time as This. Can you tell us about your writing journey and who inspired you to write?
SHANI AKILAH (SA): I have always loved reading and writing, and that’s mainly down to being raised by my incredible parents. They are academics who have always valued the importance of education. I was reading from a really young age, and I have a vivid memory of Dad teaching me to read and write down John 1 on flashcards when I was four years old! I also loved writing stories in primary and secondary school, and a few years ago I came across a story that I had written when I was six years old.
But my writing journey really started five years ago, when I was at an event at my local library in Woolwich. My younger sister Rasheeda was hosting a Q&A with author Bernardine Evaristo to discuss her book Girl, Woman, Other, which later went on to win the Booker Prize. During that evening, I was really inspired by what Bernardine had to say about writing as a craft and the power of storytelling, and it reminded me how much I loved writing.
After the talk, I spoke to Bernardine and asked if she had any advice on what I could do to develop my writing. She spoke about the importance of reading to become a better writer but also doing writing courses and mentioned she was running a masterclass for under 25s in Woolwich at the Tramshed. I signed up to the class which started a few weeks afterwards, and I remember during that first session I felt strongly that writing was the one thing that made sense for me. That was a real moment in my journey because ever since that day I’ve been working towards the goal of being a published author, and exactly five years later it’s amazing to see that dream come true.
LN: You have beautifully executed and captured the essence of the millennial Black British experience and illustrated the challenges of friendship groups in today’s world. Tell us how you managed to do this and is this based on your own experiences?
SA: Friendship means a lot to me. It’s a really big part of my life and I feel that not enough credit is given to the beauty of platonic relationships. A lot of my writing is inspired by seeds of truth from my own life and a number of my characters, and the relationships between individuals is inspired by some of the incredible people I have the pleasure of calling some of my closest friends. I’ve learnt so much over the years about intentional biblical friendship and also have personal experiences of doing life with friends – the joys, the sorrows and the challenges – all inspiration for my stories.
LN: What do you hope readers take away from reading For Such a Time as This?
SA: The collection deals with some really important topics that affect Black communities, such as sickle cell, dating, racism in the workplace, and endometriosis (in terms of how it affects Black women), and so I would love for people to learn more about those issues and take time to really sit with them. I would also say the book is very wholesome and illustrates the multiplicity of joy, so I want people to come away feeling warmth from the reading experience and filled with hope.
LN: We know you are passionate about community and bringing people together. How did you incorporate this in the book?
SA: Yes, I am super passionate about community and bringing people together and I have been like that for as long as I can remember. In the collection, Niah is a main character and is the link that connects all the other characters. She is very much a fictionalised version of me and the friendship groups I have. I’ve got friends from school, sixth form, university, church and work who all know each other from the various events I’ve hosted over the years, including my annual birthday games night, which is the setting for the last story in the book. Group chats on iMessage and WhatsApp are also a recurring motif in my stories, which again are inspired by the online relationships I have with my friends and the various communities I have established over the years.
LN: Aside from writing such a thought-provoking book, you’re the co-founder of Nyah Network. What made you create a book club for Black women?
SA: When I was 22, I had just finished my master’s degree and my best friend Elizabeth and I wanted to create a safe space where like-minded Black women in their twenties could connect and make friends. Having entered the workplace as recent graduates, we found it was difficult to build a sisterhood in white-dominated spaces, so we created a community where we hosted regular socials, brunches, trips abroad, and staycations. Given our passion for reading, as part of the network we started a monthly book club and wanted to highlight Black voices and so read books exclusively by Black authors. Though the community formally came to a close at the end of 2022, it’s been beautiful to see the friendships remain despite the group ending. The Nyah Network, and particularly the book club, will always have a special place in my heart.
LN: You have been described as a ‘glittering new voice in the literary firmament’. What a compliment! How does that make you feel?
SA: This is such an amazing quote and I’m so grateful to Bernardine Evaristo for her kind words. It also features on the front cover of the book, which is an absolute dream come true. Honestly, I feel so blessed. And I’m so grateful to God because I really do feel like I’m walking in purpose.
LN: What can we expect from you in the future?
SA: I really want to write more stories about Black communities and safe spaces that are hidden, or more specifically, stories from communities that I don’t feel have been well-represented in contemporary literature. For example, I would love to tell more stories about characters who have grown up in church, and explore the challenges, contradictions but also the joy and sense of home and belonging of being part of such faith communities. I’m also really interested in telling more inter-generational stories and sharing narratives from the Windrush generation and their impact on second and third generations. One thing that will remain in all my writing, though, is the illustration of community and joy within the context of the African diaspora.
LN: What would you like your work to be remembered for?
SA: This is a really big question, but I think the first thing that comes to mind is being remembered for writing stories where people feel seen. I think more so than five-star ratings or being featured on bestseller lists, what is most meaningful to me is when people have said to me “Thank you, Shani, for telling our stories”. One of my favourite revelations of God is where He revealed Himself to Hagar as ‘El Roi’, ‘the God who sees me’. That passage in Exodus has always meant so much to me and so, as a writer, it’s a real gift to be able to convey that beautiful revelation of the Most High God in my storytelling.
Lawrencia Nelson is a writer who has written for numerous publications and used to run her own PR consultancy. She is also a dedicated Christian and mother of two, committed to sharing God’s Word in her work.
