Stormzy prize winner wants to write for ‘next gen of black boys’

When Abaka Debrah thinks about the future, he has one big mission in mind.

“I want to write for the next generation of young black boys,” he says.

His new novel Where Geezers Call Home is partly inspired by the UK riots last year, while also drawing on his own experiences of moving to the UK from Ghana aged two.

The book has just won the New Writers’ Prize on Stormzy’s #Merky Books label, with the story catching the attention of the judges, including the rapper himself.

They described the story as “a thrilling and shocking dystopian exploration of the complexities of race and identity, trust, and rebellion in modern British culture”.

This year there were over 700 submissions, with the contest – launched by Stormzy six years ago – aiming to increase access to the publishing industry for a wider range of voices.

Known as Abs to his friends, 25-year-old Abaka’s story shows a future where race riots lead to the United Nations (UN) taking over the UK government.

“It’s set in this alternative world where the UN steps in to implement strict laws where everyone has to be equal,” he says, describing it as a “wacky little story”.

But that doesn’t take away from some of the serious themes in the book, such as race relations in the UK.

“I love the UK but you also realise there’s a lot we need to do to not be oblivious of cracks and divides,” Abs says.

He thinks there’s a danger too many people sweep these issues under the rug.

“There’s this idea that everything is great in the UK and we all get along,” he says.

The book draws on Abs’ childhood, with main character Xavier being relocated to Essex, where the author also moved as a kid.

It also incorporates some of his ideas of a more complicated identity, which he’s worked into his spoken word poetry.

“I’m from Ghana and I’ve lived here most of my life. What it means to be British is this ongoing battle,” Abs says.

“The UK is my home and I love the UK but I thinks sometimes for a lot of people who contribute a lot to this society they wonder if this place is really home.

“Or if it’s just an Airbnb they’re passing through.”

Abs hopes his book will help to inspire the next generation of writers, saying he didn’t get the chance to read many authors like him in school.

“It brings out representation and support for people not seen in traditional publishing.

“There’s so many great writers from marginalised communities not represented,” he says.

But he does feel there has been progress in the types of stories being told about minority communities.

Previous winners of #Merky Books prizes have included stories from Sufiyaan Salam, junior doctor William Rayfet Hunter, Hafsa Zayyan, author of We Are All Birds of Uganda, and Zadie Smith and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

“We’re seeing a lot more media now about black love and black joy, instead of just black pain,” Abs adds.

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