‘Abdurraqib’s genius is in pinpointing those moments in American cultural history when Black people made lightning strike. This is searing, revelatory, filled with utter heartbreak, and unstoppable joy.’ Marlon James.

In A Little Devil in America: In Praise of Black Performance, writer, music critic and poet Hanif Abdurraqib weaves a unique and intimate history of Black performance. From Beyoncé to Whitney Houston, backing singers to TV hopefuls, through sport, sit-coms, film, fashion and space travel, his kaleidoscopic canvas is full of sharp insight, humour and heart.

His 2019 book, Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest, a genre-bending group biography, debuted on the New York Times bestseller list. In his first collection of essays, They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us, he wrote, “Once you realize that it’s all performance the medicine goes down easier.” Described by the Chicago Tribune as “The most important cultural critic in America right now”, we’re delighted to welcome Hanif Abdurraqib to ILFDublin.

Hanif will discuss his musical and cultural influences with writer, poet and vocalist Jess Kav.

It’s All Performance: Hanif Abdurraqib