Events
The Journey of a Black Bookshoop - with Afrori Books
afrori books
When: Monday 26 October, 10:30–11:45 Led by: Carolynn Bain, founder of Afrori Books, in conversation with Kylie Okorie, librarian, University of Sussex
Join us for an intimate one-to-one interview with Carolynn Bain, founder of Afrori Books, in conversation with Kylie Okorie, librarian at the University of Sussex.
Carolynn started Afrori Books because she was tired of searching bookshops for the tiny section set aside for Black authors. The business began online and opened its first physical shop in Brighton in 2021. It is now based at the Brighthelm Centre, and it has become one of the few remaining Black bookshops in the UK. Afrori Books has been named British Bookseller of the Year (2023, 2025), and it runs author events, school programmes and community initiatives alongside the shop.
This session follows Carolynn's personal journey from the first idea to building the business. It looks at what Afrori Books stands for, why it was created, and what it has taken to keep a Black bookshop open over the last several years. It's open to anyone who wants to hear the story behind it.