Author Aminatta Forna

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On The Arts Hour this week, Nikki Bedi is joined by the writer Aminatta Forna and the journalist, blogger and Eurovision Song Contest expert William Lee Adams. Aminatta Forna discusses her latest novel Happiness, which traces the interconnected lives of a Attila, Ghanaian psychiatrist, and Jean, an American researcher, as they pass through the streets of London. Superstar Hollywood director Steven Spielberg talks about his latest film Ready Player One and whether virtual reality is the future of cinema and Canadian poet Rupi Kaur muses on why, despite topping the best-seller lists with her collections, she didn’t enjoy poetry in school. American author Angie Thomas explains how the Black Lives Matter movement inspired her best-selling debut novel, The Hate U Give, and Jamaican singer, actor and TV host Bella Blair talks about how she added another string to her bow and became a stand-up comedian. And we have music from a woman who moves between the worlds of Sufi music and Bollywood soundtracks, Indian singer Harshdeep Kaur. Photo shows: Aminatta Forno (c) Nina Subin