In 2024, Brixton House hosted writer of Brixton Stories, Biyi Bándélé’s memorial event in conjunction with the posthumous publication of Yoruba Boy Running, Biyi’s final novel.
Brixton House and the family of Biyi Bándélé are proud to launch the Biyi Bándélé Bursary Fund, which aims to support African diaspora writers with a small bursary to help them through a period of challenge, as well as providing support through mentorship and more. We aim to support at least three writers per year.
- The first cohort of writers will receive a bursary starting from £2,000.
- Applications will be opening from Summer 2025 with the first cohort being selected for 2026.
- Mentorship will be with Brixton House’s new Artistic Advisory Collective.
“I am incredibly proud, alongside the family of the late writer Biyi Bándélé, to be launching the Biyi Bándélé Bursary Fund, which will provide African diaspora writers with a small bursary and mentorship at Brixton House.”
Ruth Hawkins, Executive Creative Producer
“My father’s work was his life. All of his thoughts, experiences and emotions became stories, whether on the page, on stage, on screen – or just stories he told me.”
Temitayo Bándélé
“Biyi was a unique, all-responsive talent… He was versatile – no sooner [had he] invaded one genre than he commenced exploration of another, with the former still hovering over his creative horizon as unfinished business.”
Wole Soyinka
“Biyi Bándélé had a prolifically talented and creative mind, shown in everything he touched. Yorùbá Boy Running [Biyi Bándélé’s final novel] is no exception.”
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Images from A Night to Remember – Biyi Bándélé
