#TenThingsLearnt w/c Aug 4 🧵

1. India has doubled its number of airports in the last ten years. 🛫

2. The government of Thailand regularly fund families to pay for a son’s gender-transition surgeries, because ‘ladyboys’ - as they are commonly referred to - are great for tourism and the country’s gdp.

3. Killer whales go through the menopause. 😳💦

4. After stories about suicides are published or publicised in mass media, in the days and weeks after, suicide rates climb by 12%.

5. Israel is seeing a wave of soldiers taking their own lives - five died by suicide in July. Israel Defence Forces’s own investigations have found it is what soldiers have seen and done in Gaza that are the cause.

6. During the period of French colonisation, The Republic of Benin, known for its intellectuals, was nicknamed ‘The Latin quarter of Africa’.

7. The British Museum’s collection includes over 8 Million items. The vast majority of them have never ever been displayed or even catalogued. Yet, their collections grow. 🚫

8. Skunk spray is flammable: 🦨💨🔥

9. Dean Cain, who volunteered to join ICE, is one-quarter Japanese. The rest of his ancestors are Welsh, Irish, and French Canadian. He passed for White American enough to play Superman alongside Teri Hatcher’s Louis Lane. His birth name is Dean Tanaka. 🤣

10. The Chinese language has multiple words for compassion, each hi-lighting different shades of the concept, which is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, religion, and philosophy. 🙏🏿🫡

#TenThingsLearnt w/c July 28🧵

1. There are 7 vowels in the Yoruba language!

2. There is a whites-only settlement in the middle of Arknasaw.😳

3. …Black influencers are asking if they can sponsor some families to join 😂😭

4. “Crushing the flowers won’t delay the spring”.

5. 85% of England’s river-stretches are in poor ecological condition. 🏞️

6. ‘Radical’ comes from the Latin word ‘Rad’ which means ‘Rooted’.

7. Only 0.002 % of Earth’s water flows through rivers. They are relatively rare, yet, civilisations are built on river banks. 🌊

8. In the late 80s, Asian women who were coming to the UK, were subject to virginity tests - vaginal examinations - at Heathrow Airport.

9. Each year in Amsterdam, sanitation workers pull out 15,000 bikes from the canals.🚲🚳

10. Abracadabra" is actually from the aramaic (before Hebrew) phrase “Avrakehdabra" which means “I will create as I speak."🪄✨

#TenThingsLearnt w/c July 14🧵

1. Children are increasingly taking breaks from screens and smartphones to better manage their mental health, personal safety and concentration spans. 📲 The number of 12-to-15 year olds doing has risen from 18% to 40% since 2022.

2. The lettuce sea slug can steal chloroplast from the plants they eat, mount them on their backs, and essentially, like plants, live on pure sunlight! ☀️⛅️🌅

3. Bees can see ultraviolet light, and Salmons can smell the river in which they were born. 🐝🐝

4. The "Black and Tans" were a British paramilitary force recruited into the Royal Irish Constabulary during the Irish War of Independence.

5. They were notorious for their brutality and violence against the Irish civilian population and the Irish Republican Army.

6. When Ireland was liberated, they were deployed to British Mandate Palestine to subjugate Palestinians - do to them what they had done to Ireland - and protect The Jewish Population.

7. Petrichor, the smell of after-rain, means ‘the blood of the gods.’ Said to give life to inanimate object, this is what rain does; it turns sand to soil, bringing dust to life. 🌧️

8. Camels can smell water for 50 miles away. 🐪🐫

9. There are almost 150 miles of recreational sandy beaches in the country, but only five miles are accessible to ordinary Jamaicans. The rest is owned by the hotel resorts built on the beach front. 🏝️🏖️

10. The beaches are still vested - owned and controlled by the British Crown. 🤬

#TenThingsLearnt w/c July 7🧵

1. There are over 350 types of marsupials, every size from Kangaroos to Wombats.

2. 2/3 of Americans don’t know Trump’s just passed the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’.

3. The big cuts to health care and food assistance won’t come in until 2028, meaning, the people will only start suffering AFTER Trump midterm elections.

4. Thousands of Afghan families are being violently expelled from Iran.

5. Liberia produced Africa’s first female head of state, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

6. Liberia's capital, Monrovia, was named in honour of America's fifth President, James Monroe.

7. ‘Noisy’ means loud. ‘Noisome’ means smelly.

8. Because so many Africans are resident in America (e.g: Elon Musk, Dania Gurira, Thuso Mbedu, Zorhan Mamdani, Trevor Noah), using the term ‘African-American’ to refer to Black American is increasingly fraught.

9. More people have died than were born in the EU every year since 2012; migration is the only reason for the EU’s population growth. They NEED immigrants or the workforce and GDP will collapse.

10. Twice as many Africans study in China as in America.

#TenThingsLearnt w/c 30 June 🧵

1. Before Auschwitz, there was Namibia - Germany’s first genocide. Germany used concentration camps, racial science, and extermination long before the Nazis.

2. Old Trafford, the home stadium of Manchester United, has a seating capacity of 74,310.

3. 40,000 people were granted asylum in the UK in 2024.

4. Iran takes in more refugees than any country on earth. 3.5million. This is the country Israel and The US bombed.

5. The British government spends ONLY 0.22% percent of its entire government budget on refugees.

6. Memories are for predicating the future NOT for knowing the past; They sharpen your reflexes and instincts for your survival.

7. More wind turbines and solar panels were installed in China last year than in the rest of the world combined.

8. 99% of Americans have forever chemicals in their blood.

9. Malaysia received over 35,000 tons of plastic waste from American scrap brokers last year, but those arrangements are ending. Malaysia banned shipments of plastic waste from the U.S., as did China, Thailand and Indonesia.

10. An experiment reveals that our vision lags up to 15 seconds behind real time.

#TenThingsLearnt w/c 2 June🧵

1. Around 57% of languages studied do not have gender-specific pronouns. I.e they cater for non-binary identities.

2. The Vandals were a migrating group of conquers who originated from Scandinavia. They ransacked Rome, and from their actions came the word ‘Vandalism’.

3. When sharks swim, because of the nature of their skin - which is made of little teeth - they can reduces drag by 10 to 12%. Engineers are tryna adapt this for the aviation industry. Planes will burn less fuel and reduce pollution.🦈✈️

4. The moment you put your key in your door and suddenly have to pee is so prevalent, it known as ‘The Latchkey Phenomenon’. Your brain knows you can find relief quickly, and stops suppressing your bladder. 💦😣

5. Gaza has the highest percentage of child amputees in the world.

6. The Gervais principle, articulated by Venkatesh Rao (based on a in-depth but light-hearted analysis of The Office) is a theory that ‘sociopaths’ who know how to acquire and manipulate power rule all organisations. Beneath them are the loyal ‘clueless’ and disaffected ‘losers.’

7. 20 years ago, adults could focus on a screen without interruption for an average of 2 and a half minutes. In 2012, it was 75 seconds. In 2021, it shrank to an average of 47 seconds.

8. China is soon to have a zero-tariff policy for exports from 53 African countries.

9. Trump included Congo-Brazzaville in his travel ban. He meant to include the Democratic Republic of Congo. 😂🤡

10. Annoyance is the price of community.

#TenThingsLearnt w/c May 26 🧵

1. When trans woman protest bare-chested, and are arrested for “indecent exposure”, police HAVE to book them as WOMEN because bare-chested men are never arrested for indecent exposure. It’s ingenious, using the law against itself.

2. Nigeria has 370 ethnic groups and over 520 languages and dialects, but Sudan has 600 ethnic groups, and over 150 languages. Sudan is the oldest human migration corridor in the world.

3. Nintendo is older than the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

4. OnlyFans is a British company. They pay more UK tax (£149M in 2023) than the entire UK fishing industry (about £67M).

5. The UK’s entire energy consumption is 80 Gigawatts.

6. China adds 300 Gigawatts of clean energy to their existing grids PER YEAR. China has the capacity to raise 1000 per year - only from solar power.

7. The TOTAL electricity capacity in AFRICA is 250-300 Gigawatts.

8. The EU is Israel’s biggest trade partner, purchasing one third of all its exports.

9. Staff at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) were instructed to shred and burn their own archives; classified documents and personnel files.

10. Because metal expands, in summer, the Eiffel Tower grows taller.

#TenThingsLearnt w/c May 12🧵

1. Only 512 Teslas were bought in the UK in April. 😅🥲✊🏿

2. Indigenous Americans invented lacrosse. They have been playing for 1,000 years.😧

3. Whereas English has many words to describe the passage of time, the Hopi language only has “sooner” and “later”. 🕰️☺️

4. There are at least 3 types of volcanoes: composite, shield & cinder cone. 🌋

5. In 2025, UK wildfires have already burned more intensely than any other year on record, and it’s only may.🔥🚒

6. Only 30% of the electorate voted in Nigeria’s 2023 elections. 🤦🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️

7. The average white South African is 20 times wealthier than the average black South African. 🇿🇦😕

8. 81% of Mauritians regularly go online, more than 4 x the share of Ugandans (17%), Malawians (19%), Nigeriens (19%), and Tanzanians (20%). 😳

9. Strawberries become sweeter when the days are bright and the nights are cool; the plants rest overnight and use more of the excess energy gained during the day to produce more natural sugars.🍓🍓😋

10. Men are generally harder to lip-read because we mumble too much and between 30 and 40 % of speech is actually visible on your lips – everything else is complicated guesswork. 🤔

#TenThingsLearnt w/c June 5🧵

1. Only female mosquitoes drink blood. Male mosquitoes primarily feed on nectar and plant juices for energy.

2. Female mosquitoes need a blood meal to produce eggs, and they also play a role in the transmission of disease.

3. Collagen smells like burning flesh.

4. Camels were once indigenous to North America. There were 20 different variations, from rabbit size to typical camel sizes, and beyond.

5. The camping to segregate toilets for trans people is really an attempt to exclude them from public life. It’s the new Jim Crow.

6. Doctor Who fans are the best fans in the world… 🙏🏿❤️🥲🎉

7. …1.59 million people watched my episode on May 10th! 😳😨🥲😌

8. The figure is not consolidated and does not include BBC iPlayer, where it was available at 8am on Saturday, ahead of its BBC One broadcast.

9. The United Arab Emirates is angling to become the AI capital of Earth by bankrolling America’s entire AI infrastructure; the sheikh in charge controls a $1.5 Trillion fortune.

10. Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAi once said: “AI will probably most likely lead to the end of the world, but in the meantime there’ll be great companies.”

May News

Didn’t quite manage to rest yet again / x

So,
After spending two weeks in the BEAUTIFUL Canadian mountain-town of BANFF (working on a new play) I came back down to England-Town on Monday. I am severely jet lagged, I feel like my soul is hovering over the ocean, and my body misses it, but there’s much ado this week and I gotta charge on until it returns.

I’ll try to be brief. Remember the formula?

4 news items + something to watch…

x

1 / The Writing Shed / Poetry

I have an evening of poetry and conversation coming up this Thursday at The Writing Shed. The Writing Shed is a creative project in which open mic nights, workshops and in-depth conversations with established writers happen at venue in North London. At the end of the event, after all the chit chat, we’ll get a drink or two. Personally, I’m looking forward to the Open Mic, I need to find new writers and performers for our 05Events.

Thur 8 May 7:30pm
The Roasting Shed
322 Hornsey Road
London N7 7HE

Book here!

x

2 / My Doctor Who / Episode 5

Above are stills from my Doctor Who Episode! After two years of work - that’s how long I had to keep my big mouth shut - this Saturday you’ll finally get to see it! My Ep is called The Story and The Engine. It is set in Lagos, Nigeria, where “…a mysterious Barber reigns supreme. The Doctor discovers in which stories have power, but has to think fast to stop the Spider from spinning its deadly web of revenge!” PLEASE Puh-LEASE tune in to watch, and lemme know what you think after!

Sat 10 May / 19:10 PM / BBC 1
Sat 10 May 8 AM / Disney+
more info here. 

x

3 / The Restitution Rap Party / May

In commemoration of Africa Day, this special edition invites audiences and writers to imagine and re-imagine the possible, histories and swirling narratives around artefacts in Manchester Museum’s collection.

To recap, The Rhythm And Poetry / Prose Party is a no-clutter no-fuss night of live literature and moving music. The format is super simple: 10 writers share a piece of work and after each, the DJ will play two songs of their choosing linked to the text.

I will be joined by Sid Mercutio on decks, and a fantastic line up of writers and performers from communities of origin. Expect live literature, moving music, and an unforgettable night out!

Sat 23 May / 7:00
Living Worlds gallery
Manchester Museum
Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9PL
Book / here.

x

4 / Stained Metal / 💥New Project Alert!💥

KENYA x JAMAICA x INDIA x CANADA!

I got a lot of flack when I accepted an MBE, a royal honour, from King Charles. Some friends and fans of my work were angry and disappointed. Others called me a sell-out, an Uncle Tom, a coon, etc. I did my best to hold my peace, because there was (there always is) a larger picture and context at play. The plan was (the plan always is) to make art, to articulate complexity, to broaden and deepen understanding.

This is Stained Metal a project in which I ship the MBE medal itself - a piece of the kingdom - to four artists in four formerly-colonised corners of the Empire: Kenya, Jamaica, India and Canada. I will commission new work from local artists, ask them, (as a provocation) what it means to be part of a construct they never asked to join, and we will present their varied answers here in Britain and in Nigeria.

Stained Metal will be a profound exploration of empire, identity, and legacy. The purpose of the work is to better understand the everyday legacies of Empire from those most affected by it, and to add the voices of those we don’t hear enough of to the ongoing debate about Royal Honours.

Co-presented by Fuel, Creative Manchester, and Manchester Museum, Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), the project will be launched as part of my Honorary Fellowship at University of Manchester on May 28th. - Oh yeah, I’m now an honorary fellow there.

The launch-event promises to be an unforgettable night of poetry, storytelling, and thought-provoking conversation. I hope you can make it. Tickets are free, but you have to book…

Wed 28 May / 5:30
Living Worlds gallery
Manchester Museum
Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9PL
Book / here.

x

5 / Something to watch / Dr Who again!

It’s my trailer! Only .30secs long. Enjoy here!

x

#TenThingsLearnt w/c April 21🧵

1. A lot of products “Made in America” were actually *made in China, but *assembled in America.

2.. Like in Canada, the trade war has only served united people in China against the US.

3. Chinese people save 40% of all they earn. Their plan is simply to wait out the trade war.

4. China is 5000 years older than America. Trump is playing a 4-yr game. China is playing for another 5000 years.

5. During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Pope Francis suggested Trump was “not Christian” because of his preference to build walls instead of bridges.

6. Pope Francis apologised for the silence of church leaders in the Rwandan genocide and to the Roma people for a history of discrimination and mistreatment.

7. Pope Francis begged forgiveness from Indigenous communities for the abuse and mistreatment of their children in Catholic schools.

8. In 2019, Pope Francis got on his hands and knees before the warring leaders of South Sudan’s government and its opposition to kiss their shoes, begging them to make peace.

9. His first papal trip out of Rome was to Lampedusa, the tiny Italian island that had become the point of arrival for thousands of African migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

10. 70% of crimes are committed by under 40 yr olds.

#TenThingsLearnt w/c April 7🧵

1. Arnold’s field in Rainham, England, is so contaminated with chemicals, it spontaneously bursts into toxic wildfires.

2. Workers in Japan, built an entire train station in the six hours between the night’s last train and the morning’s first, using 3D-printers.

3. Donald Trump is only as smart as America needs him to be.

4. The Mayans and Aztecs originated hot chocolate. They were the first to grind cacao beans and mix them with water and spices. It was a bitter, frothy drink, ceremonial drink.

5. Logs have to dry for two years to become firewood.

6. "Catwalk" and "runway" are used interchangeably in fashion, but have different meanings. A runway is a general term for where models walk, while a catwalk is a narrow, elevated walkway, also associated with construction settings.

7. Cambridge University was one of the first to offer women higher education, but the last ancient university to grant them degrees.

8. The 19th Century word: ‘Kakistocracy’ means a Government of the least qualified or worst people.

9. The 19th Century word: ‘Ultracrepidarian’ means somebody who gives opinions on subjects they know nothing about.

10. The 18th Century word: ‘Fudgel’ means Pretending to work while actually doing nothing.