“I am living proof that positive interventions can lead to positive outcomes.” – Malik Al Nasir
Malik Al Nasir is an author, poet and academic from Liverpool.
From the age of 9 to 18 Malik grew up in care. By 18 he says he was left traumatised, semi-literate, homeless and destitute, many years later going on to successfully sue Liverpool City Council for neglect, racism and physical abuse. A turning point came with a chance meeting with poet and activist Gil Scott-Heron at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre in 1984. Scott-Heron became a mentor, inviting Malik to tour with him and encouraging him to return to education and to use poetry as the vehicle to become literate.
Malik got a job at sea working on ferries and tankers, all while teaching himself to read and write, sending Gil poems at each port he would stop at.
Malik went on to study at, and graduate from, all three Liverpool universities, completing his master’s Liverpool Screen School.
His memoir, Letters To Gil, documented his childhood experiences and then in tracing his ancestry back to Demerara, Malik has established himself as a renowned researcher into Britain’s role in the slave trade.
"In Conversation" has grown into a remarkable event series at Afrori Books. Whether it’s a lively auditorium filled with hundreds or a cosy, intimate setting, these events offer a chance to engage with some of the brightest established and emerging authors and creatives from around the globe. These are one-of-a-kind opportunities to hear personal stories and experiences, shared with honesty and openness. At Afrori Books, we’re committed to providing a safe space for Black creatives to tell their stories in their own voices. We’d love for you to join the conversation.
Why Attend?