The poet, playwright, artist and all-round creative whirlwind Inua Ellams was born in Nigeria in 1984 before moving to London as a child. Perhaps best known for his 2017 smash-hit play Barber Shop Chronicles, his other plays include The Half-God of Rainfall (2019), Three Sisters, an adaptation of Chekhov’s play set in 1960s Africa, and gripping family drama Once Upon a Time in Sokoto, which is currently touring the UK. He also has two books out in November: a reissue of his Rathbones Folio Prize-longlisted collection of essays and poems, The Actual, and an anthology he’s edited called Choose Love, in which 10 writers are paired with 10 refugees and asylum seekers to tell their stories.

I don’t imagine this is anything close to being a secret, but this podcast, hosted by Diallo Riddle and Blake "LUXXURY" Robin is magnificent, particularly promethean. It takes the sparks of musical genius from those who lord it over us mortals, deconstructs what was created – often with commentary from the creators, explaining how the fire was made. The last episode I feasted on was dedicated to Ready or Not from the Fugees’ chart-topping album The Score - which I love so much, I curated a poetry and music event earlier this year in dedication.

This is a play so deeply loved, celebrated and performed across the United States, it has leapt from the stage into meme territory. Denzel Washington’s screen adaptation is mesmerising, but this new touring version, running at the Lyric theatre in Hammersmith until tomorrow before moving to Manchester and Nottingham, directed by my dear friend Daniel Bailey, is sublime. I mean that in the fullest sense of that word. It simply glides into you, something subliminal takes hold, you are suddenly a part of its drama, as it is a part of you. It ends and you are spiritually poorer for it. Grab a ticket if you can.

I work too much. It’s a hazard when your job is also your hobby. Add an immigrant mindset, and a Nigerian immigrant mindset at that, to a hobby that is essentially hallucinatory, and it makes a toxic mix where dreams, ideas, theories and manifestations blur. To make sense of it all, one needs a flexible, sturdy system for structuring thoughts, scenes, dialogue, proverbs, research and all that is required to build the worlds that I do. Enter Things, the project management software I’d be completely useless without. I’ve been using it for over a decade now and will use it for as long as it is available. 

I’ve just finished the first series of this epic story set in the Pacific islands and starring Jason Momoa. It is about a period and a world I knew almost nothing about; but its themes and characters are so familiar, it could be set in pre-colonial West Africa. It’s about the internal struggles for domination as foreign powers begin to appear in and around Hawaii. Lots of incredibly choreographed battle scenes with a style of mortal combat and weapons I’d never seen before, all executed with a large cast of first-time actors. It’s truly impressive, showing Jason Momoa’s range as an actor, and I’m looking forward to the next series.

So I curated the last iteration of this annual exhibition and it was the most exhilarating, humbling and rewarding project I completed last year; selecting 250 artworks from over 7,000 – each created by artists who have some experience of criminal justice settings. This year’s exhibition is called Rock, Paper, Scissors, and was curated by the Parental Imprisonment Collective. Five young curators drew on their own experiences of criminal justice when putting the show together, reflecting on themes of childhood, family, decisions and chance. It’s at Southbank Centre – it’s always held there (another reason I deeply cherish that arts centre) and it’s free to attend! 

Once Upon a Time in Sokoto is currently touring the UK and travels to Warwick next, from 5-7 November. For venues and booking details see the show website. The Actual is published on 5 November by Bloomsbury and Choose Love is published on 12 November by Hutchinson Heinemann