Viewing Ekow Eshun: The Strangers at The Ritzy

Ekow Eshun is one of the UK’s most treasured and celebrated curators and thinkers – rightly so, we think. Before his major upcoming project with Es Devlin, Congregation, opens in London next month, we can’t wait to celebrate the launch of Eshun’s new book, The Strangers, published by Penguin Imprint, Hamish Hamilton.

​​Described as “staggering”, “moving” and “redempetive”, The Strangers traces the histories of five extraordinary men: Ira Aldridge: nineteenth century actor and playwright, polar explorer, Matthew Henson, Frantz Fanon, psychiatrist and political philosopher, Malcolm X and trailblazing footballer, Justin Fashanu. Through Eshun’s intimate, moving portraits, he connects these five men through their accomplishments and also by the things that tried to hold them back, a shared sense of isolation and exile that haunts each of them, even as they reach for a better future.

Next week, ahead of the book’s official release on 19 September, Eshun is hosting a very special evening event at the Ritzy Picturehouse cinema, Brixton. Eshun will be in conversation with Afua Hirsch, and has invited five special guests to read from The Strangers: Adjoa Andoh, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Travis Alabanza, Yomi Sode and Eric Collins. The event ends with an audience Q&A and book signing.