Settlers

Journeys Through the Food, Faith and Culture of Black African London

Jimi Famurewa

Jimi Famurewa journeys into the vibrant world of Black African London. Shortlisted for the Foyles Non-Fiction Book of the Year.

'A spellbinding portrait of culture, talent, food and activism.' ? Stylist Magazine

'Settlers is replete with revealing anecdotes. Famurewa's writing is thoughtful, cogent and admirably even-handed.' ? the Guardian

What is it to be Black, African and British?

In this book Jimi Famurewa, a British-Nigerian journalist, seeks to understand the ties that bind Black African Londoners together and link them with their home countries. He visits their places of worship, markets and restaurants and far-flung grammar schools and listens to stories from shopkeepers and activists, artists and politicians.

But Jimi also uncovers a darker side, of racial discrimination between White and Black communities and, between Black Africans and Afro-Caribbeans. He investigates the troublesome practice of ‘farming’ in which young Black Nigerians were sent to live with White British foster parents and examines historic interaction with the police.

This is a vivid new portrait of London, and of modern Britain.

Jimi Famurewa is a British-Nigerian author, broadcaster and journalist. He is the restaurant critic for the Evening Standard and regular judge on BBC One's MasterChef. In 2021, he won Restaurant Writer of the Year at the Fortnum & Mason Awards and Guild of Food Writers Awards. His story ‘Teddybird’ was shortlisted for the 2017 Guardian/4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize.