Afua Hirsch

EXCLUSIVE
  • Award-Winning Writer, Journalist, and Filmmaker on Issues of Race and Equality
  • Co-Host, Epix's 'Enslaved' with Samuel L. Jackson and Writer and Host, BBC's 'African Renaissance'
  • Founder, Born in Me Productions
  • Award-Winning Author of 'Brit(ish): On Race, Identity, and Belonging' and 'Equal to Everything'

Award-winning writer, journalist, lawyer, and filmmaker Afua Hirsch is known for her work on Black culture, history, identity, and culture in the African diaspora and worldwide. Hirsch is the author of the Sunday Times bestseller Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging, which won the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Prize, and Equal to Everything, a children’s book about the U.K. Supreme Court. She served as a judge for the 2019 Booker Prize. She was a correspondent, social affairs editor, and anchor for Sky News, and founded the media entertainment company Born In Me Productions. In partnership with Fremantle, Born In Me specializes in telling stories from truly diverse perspectives and underrepresented voices that appeal to an international audience. Hirsch presents the BBC’s documentary series African Renaissance: When Art Meets Power, which has just been renewed for a second season, as well as Samuel L. Jackson’s Epix series Enslaved about the history of the transatlantic slave trade. In sought-after keynote speeches and moderated conversations, Hirsch delves into how communities and organizations can explore identity and find belonging.

Hirsch is a regular contributor to The New York Times and The Guardian, and has written multiple cover stories for Vogue and TIME. She has appeared on Amanpour & Co., CNN, among many others. A journalist since age fourteen, Hirsch currently serves as the Wallis Annenberg Chair of Journalism at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and is the co-founder of the fashion brand Sika. She was named to the BBC’s Powerlist 2021, which honors “the most powerful people of African, African Caribbean, and African American heritage in the U.K.,” and was named Advisory Chair of the prestigious Edinburgh TV Festival. Hirsch regularly receives rave reviews, such as: “It all went fantastically well! Afua was really inspiring and generous with her time, we have received lots of excellent feedback on her keynote speech.” (Transport for London)

 



Afua Hirsch photo 3
Afua Hirsch photo 2
Afua Hirsch headshot
Past Hosts Include:
  • Transport for London
  • Ashurst
  • AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
  • Pearson UK
  • Weil, Gotshal & Manges
Rave Reviews About Afua Hirsch as a Speaker
Afua Hirsch recently presented and spoke at our Anti-Racism Leadership Charter event. Not only was she well received by the audience, she was easy to work with, personable and spent extra time interacting with our colleagues. Afua’s high energy, knowledge, and passion to instigate meaningful change was amazing. However, it was her ability to deliver valuable and informative content through her own lived experience that left colleagues feeling inspired, empowered to do more and be more inclusive! We would highly recommend Afua to other organisations embarking on their Anti-racism journey.

Moderating - My Life As A Cop: Leroy Logan in Conversation with Afua Hirsch | The Conduit [57:21] - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Afua Hirsch
Expand all >

Race Equality, Social Justice and Human Rights

Award-winning writer and former lawyer AFUA HIRSCH is the acclaimed author of Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging, which won the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Prize. She is renowned for her work on Black culture, history, identity, and culture in the African diaspora and worldwide, and ...

Award-winning writer and former lawyer AFUA HIRSCH is the acclaimed author of Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging, which won the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Prize. She is renowned for her work on Black culture, history, identity, and culture in the African diaspora and worldwide, and draws on her depth of expertise in this compelling talk.

Black Culture: A Historical Perspective for Modern Times

Award-winning writer AFUA HIRSCH has been sought after for her thought leadership across mediums, from her writing on race, identity, and belonging, to her work as a documentarian presenting the BBC series African Renaissance and Samuel L. Jackson’s Epix series Enslaved. Bringing together historical ...

Award-winning writer AFUA HIRSCH has been sought after for her thought leadership across mediums, from her writing on race, identity, and belonging, to her work as a documentarian presenting the BBC series African Renaissance and Samuel L. Jackson’s Epix series Enslaved. Bringing together historical understanding and modern implications, Hirsch makes complex and nuanced conversations resonate with impact for audiences of all kinds.

Author Talk: ‘Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging’

Based on her Sunday Times bestselling book, which won the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Prize, AFUA HIRSCH shares profound insights about her own journey with identity, and fosters understanding about the work ahead for communities, companies, and society overall to expand racial equality and ...

Based on her Sunday Times bestselling book, which won the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Prize, AFUA HIRSCH shares profound insights about her own journey with identity, and fosters understanding about the work ahead for communities, companies, and society overall to expand racial equality and ensure meaningful belonging.

International Current Affairs

Award-winning writer and eminent filmmaker AFUA HIRSCH has spent decades as a journalist focusing on telling global stories with resounding impact. In her previous work as a lawyer, her clients have included the governments of Ghana, Tanzania, and Liberia. Working in non-profits she was involved in ...

Award-winning writer and eminent filmmaker AFUA HIRSCH has spent decades as a journalist focusing on telling global stories with resounding impact. In her previous work as a lawyer, her clients have included the governments of Ghana, Tanzania, and Liberia. Working in non-profits she was involved in human rights litigation in Rwanda, Chad, and Sierra Leone. From her work as a war correspondent to her renowned documentaries, Hirsch shines a light on current events with a historical perspective, offering context and a deeper understanding of today’s most pressing issues.

International Justice & the Law

Renowned author and journalist AFUA HIRSCH leverages her experience as a practicing lawyer to shed light on the nuanced implications of international law and the pursuit of justice. In her previous work as a lawyer, her clients have included the governments of Ghana, Tanzania, and Liberia. Working i ...

Renowned author and journalist AFUA HIRSCH leverages her experience as a practicing lawyer to shed light on the nuanced implications of international law and the pursuit of justice. In her previous work as a lawyer, her clients have included the governments of Ghana, Tanzania, and Liberia. Working in non-profits she was involved in human rights litigation in Rwanda, Chad, and Sierra Leone. Hirsch also draws on her expertise as a historian, culture critic, and storyteller to explore complex and nuanced issues with a fresh lens.

Afua Hirsch is a Gifted Moderator for Your Next Event

Eminent author, filmmaker, and journalist AFUA HIRSCH is an expert at curating conversations around some of today’s most pressing issues. Drawing on her work on Black culture, history, identity, and belonging, as well as her thought leadership in arts & culture, Hirsch ensures an impactful progr ...

Eminent author, filmmaker, and journalist AFUA HIRSCH is an expert at curating conversations around some of today’s most pressing issues. Drawing on her work on Black culture, history, identity, and belonging, as well as her thought leadership in arts & culture, Hirsch ensures an impactful program for your next event.

Hirsch has founded media entertainment company Born In Me Productions, which specializes in telling stories from truly diverse perspectives and underrepresented voices. In partnership with Fremantle, Born In Me reflects her background as a journalist and storyteller across multiple continents, with a focus on urgent contemporary scripted and non-scripted stories, told with a fresh and creative approach, that appeal to an international audience.

Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn  Twitter 
(-)
Speaker News
<div>Afua Hirsch Is Recognized for Her Work on Racial Equality, Identity, and Black Culture</div>

Afua Hirsch Is Recognized for Her Work on Racial Equality, Identity, and Black Culture

Award-winning writer, broadcaster and film maker AFUA HIRSCH is known for her work on Black culture, history, identity and culture in the African diaspora and worldwide. For using her platform to call attention to problems the Black community faces, Hirsch was named to BBC's Powerlist 2021, which honors the most powerful people of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage in the UK. Hirsch speaks on race equality, identity and belonging, international current affairs, international justice and the law, and Black culture, connecting with audiences by sharing her own experiences as well as presenting engaging historical knowledge. Watch Hirsch's Tedx Talk, "Our Identity" >>
Afua has written multiple cover stories for Vogue, Time Magazine, and is a regular contributor to the New York Times and the UK Guardian Newspaper. She recently interviewed Naomi Campbell for a Vogue US cover interview, then interviewed Campbell for a live panel discussion at the Vogue Forces of Fashion event.
She's worked as a TV correspondent, as social affairs editor and anchor at Sky News, and hosted African Renaissance: When Art Meets Power, a 3 part documentary series for the BBC on African art. Afua was able to showcase the incredible art, music, and culture that demonstrates the history of Ethiopia, Senegal, and Kenya. Afua co-hosted Enslaved, a 6 part doc series for BBC/Epix with Samuel L Jackson where they retrace the traumatic sea voyage endured by millions of Africans over hundreds of years during the transatlantic slave trade. She also created a podcast series for Audible.
Afua is currently the Wallis Annenberg Chair of Journalism at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. In addition to her book Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging - winner of the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Prize - Afua is the author of Equal To Everything, about the UK Supreme Court, and was a judge on last year’s Booker Prize.

(-)
Books by Afua Hirsch
(-)
Press & Media
(-)
Ideas for Meeting Planners
(-)
Biography

Award-winning writer, broadcaster and film maker Afua Hirsch is known for her work on black culture, history, identity and culture in the African diaspora and worldwide.

A journalist from the age of 14, Afua has been a practising lawyer, a war correspondent, and has written multiple cover stories for Vogue, Time Magazine, and is a regular contributor to the New York Times, and the UK Guardian Newspaper.

Afua has worked as a TV correspondent, as social affairs editor and anchor at Sky News, and is currently presenting African Renaissance, a 3 part documentary series for the BBC on African art; Enslaved, a 6 part series for Epix about the history of the transatlantic slave trade with Samuel L Jackson; and a podcast series for Audible. 

In addition to her book Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging - winner of the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Prize - Afua is the author of Equal To Everything, about the UK Supreme Court, and was a judge on 2019’s Booker Prize. She is currently the Wallis Annenberg Chair of Journalism at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. 

Afua is the founder of Born in Me Productions, which creates scripted and non-scripted movies, TV and podcast. 

She is currently based in London.