Arts

The New Black Canon: 100 Books to Read Before You Die

The New Black Canon: 100 Books To Read Before You Die is a brand-new podcast from Afrori Books about the books that shape us.

This isn’t your average book club chat: it’s a bold reimagining of the literary canon.

Hosted by Carolynn Bain, founder of Afrori Books (Britain’s award-winning bookseller specialising exclusively in Black authors) – one book at a time, we’re building The New Black Canon.

Shop afroribooks.com
Follow @afroribooks

Credits
Produced by Good Form (ongoodform.com)
Executive Producers – Emma Slade Edmondson & Melissa Legarda
AV Editing – Daniel Jolley
Original Music – Oli

Latest Episodes:

The Mercy Step, Race & Social Hierarchy with Marcia Hutchinson Nov 12, 2026

Show notes

This week on The New Black Canon: 100 Books To Read Before You Die - author Marcia Hutchinson MBE joins Carolynn to talk about a book that explores the caste system, the fundamental differences between men and women, and so much more.
This episode is a good one - and the conversation with Marcia continues over on Patreon. For an exclusive glimpse into Marcia's upbringing and what inspired her debut novel, The Mercy Step, join Afrori's Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/AfroriBooks
To purchase any of the books discussed in this episode, head to Afrori Books, the award-winning British bookseller that specialises exclusively in Black authors: afroribooks.com
Find Afrori Books on social media: @afroribooks
Credits
Produced by Good Form (ongoodform.com)
Executive Producers: Emma Slade Edmondson & Melissa Legarda
Video editing & Animation: Daniel Jolley at We Are Carnelian
Music Composition & Performance: Oliviyah Bain
Studio Partner: Groovy House
Special thanks to our on-set volunteers: Dr Khaliden Nas, Victor Alexander & Pacheanne Anderson

Black Ancestry, Arthurian Legend & Children's Books with Claire Linney Nov 05, 2026

Show notes

Author & Book Influencer Claire Linney joins Carolynn to talk about a book that explores Arthurian mythology, Black ancestry, magic and more.

Credits

Produced by Good Form (ongoodform.com)

Executive Producers - Emma Slade Edmondson & Melissa Legarda

Video editing & Animation: Daniel Jolley at We Are Carnelian

Music Composition & Performance - Oliviyah Bain

Studio Partner - Groovy House

Special thanks to our on-set volunteers: Dr Khaliden Nas, Victor Alexander & Pacheanne Anderson

Afro Surrealism, Poetry & Black Identity with Nick Makoha Oct 29, 2026

Show notes

Poet and playwright Nick Makoha joins Carolynn to talk about one of the most-discussed books in the past few years. 📚
Welcome to The New Black Canon: 100 Books To Read Before You Die - a brand-new podcast from Afrori Books about the books that shape us, and the stories that deserve a place in our collective cultural memory.
This isn't your average book club chat: it’s a conversation about the books that have changed the way we see the world; a bold reimagining of the literary canon.
The conversation with Nick continues over on Patreon so for exclusive author insights, guest advice, and tips for embracing your artistry, join Afrori's Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/AfroriBooks
To purchase any of the books discussed in this episode, head to Afrori Books, the award-winning British bookseller that specialises exclusively in Black authors: afroribooks.com
Find Afrori Books on social media: @afroribooks / @afroribooks
Credits
Produced by Good Form (ongoodform.com)
Executive Producers - Emma Slade Edmondson & Melissa Legarda
Video editing & Animation: Daniel Jolley at We Are Carnelian
Music Composition & Performance - Oliviyah Bain
Studio Partner - Groovy House
Special thanks to our on-set volunteers: Dr Khalid Nas, Victor Alexander & Pacheanne Anderson

The New Black Canon: 100 Books to Read Before You Die (Trailer) Oct 25, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to The New Black Canon: 100 Books To Read Before You Die - a brand-new podcast from Afrori Books about the books that shape us, and the stories that deserve a place in our collective cultural memory.
This isn't your average book club chat: it’s a conversation about the books that have changed the way we see the world; a bold reimagining of the literary canon. Subscribe for our weekly podcast episodes, launching this Thursday 29th October 2026.
The first of its kind, this podcast is an exclusive invitation to discover with Carolynn Bain, founder of Afrori Books: the UK's award-winning bookshop specialising in Black authored titles. From books that stayed with us long after the final page to stories that reflected our experiences in ways others couldn’t, each episode invites an author to choose one book they believe everyone should read before they die.
One book at a time, we're building The New Black Canon.
Support Afrori Books, the award-winning British bookseller that specialises exclusively in Black authors
Find Afrori Books on social media: @afroribooks / @afroribooks
Support Black literature at afroribooks.com
Credits
Produced by Good Form (ongoodform.com)
Executive Producers - Emma Slade Edmondson & Melissa Legarda
Music Composition & Performance - Oliviyah Bain
Video editing by Dan at Carnelian