Speaker
Afua Hirsch
Afua Hirsch is a former barrister, journalist and documentary maker. In huge demand for her speeches on Racism, Diversity and Inclusion her clients include large corporates and financial institutions such as CitiBank, JP Morgan and Lloyds.
About Afua Hirsch
Afua’s recent projects included a 6-part series with Samuel L Jackson and a major BBC series about African art. Her Audible original series is called We Need to Talk About The British Empire. Afua regularly writes, reports and speaks on international current affairs. Furthermore, she has written two bestselling books. Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging, winner of the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Prize, and Equal To Everything, about the UK Supreme Court.
Afua Hirsch has been a journalist for more than twenty years. She began reporting for The Voice – Britain’s oldest black national newspaper – from the age of just 14. She then went on to work in international development in 15 countries in West and Central Africa. Subsequently, she qualified as a barrister, where she worked in media law, international justice and human rights.
Afua has held senior positions at The Guardian Newspaper – where she continues to write a regular column – and Sky News, where she is still a presenter on the flagship debate show The Pledge. She is currently presenting documentary series for UK and US TV, and a podcast series for Audible.
Books written by Afua Hirsch
In 2016 Afua’s debut book, Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging, was awarded the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Prize. Furthermore, she is the Wallis Annenberg Chair of Journalism at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. And she is one of the “rebel” judges on this year’s prestigious Booker Prize.
Afua was a judge on last year’s Booker Prize and is currently the Wallis Annenberg Chair of Journalism at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Testimonials
"Afua was the standout star of our major feminism event which took place in front of nearly 1,000 people. The audience were clearly swept away by her, cheering and applauding at her witty, eloquent interventions. What most blew everyone away was the passion, insight and intelligence that she conveyed in everything she said."
Robert Collins, Intelligence Squared
"Lit Fest organisers: can't think I've seen more skillful chairing of a panel than Afua Hirsch at @TheFolioPrize talk yesterday. My hat is off. You were an absolute don in directing the chat with grace and intelligence."
Catherine O’Flynn, Costa Prize winning author
