‘We don’t celebrate Black creativity enough’: why the Black British book festival is bigger than ever

‘It’s a vibe’ … the Black British book festival. Photograph: Kingsley Davis/Alamy Photograph: Black British book festival

On Sunday morning, the Barbican’s vast concrete foyer will swap its usual quiet for a buzz of conversation and excitement, and a particular kind of cultural energy: Black British storytelling in all its multiplicity.

Now in its fifth year, the Black British book festival (BBBF) has become Europe’s largest celebration of Black literature. What began as a small, intimate gathering has grown into a national institution attracting thousands of attendees and some of the biggest names in publishing.