Poet and playwright Inua Ellams brings his exhilarating live literature phenomenon, the RAP Party, back to The London Library for a no-clutter, no-fuss evening of music and words. This time, we’re heading back to that decade when things could only get better.
2026 is all about the 1990s: Tate’s mega autumn exhibition; every stadium comeback tour; the Cranberries on every screen soundtrack; indie kid Andy as our new PM. So, join us as we get in on the act for some no-holds-barred nostalgia with specially commissioned words from a stellar line-up of writers and classic 90s tunes. Grunge, hip hop, banging house, sexy RnB, euphoric pop – whatever your vibe – come revel in those heady days and spice up your life with readings and song choices from: Bidisha, Joe Dunthorne, Inua Ellams, Lauren Elkin, Dominique Heyse-Moore, Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Daniel Rachel, Miriam Robinson and Sathnam Sanghera, plus music from RAP Party regular, DJ Tone. Book DJs in London Here.
Ten writers + a DJ = the best night out you’ll ever have in a library – or anywhere, for that matter.
‘A truly fluid literary event not just mingling poetry and music together seamlessly, but also bringing different tribes of poets: ages, races, gender, styles together. You will be moved in your heart and in your head.’— Roger Robinson
Bidisha is a broadcaster, presenter and journalist. She covers the arts and culture and current affairs for the BBC, CNN, Channel 5 and Sky News. Her most recent publication is the essay The Future of Serious Art.
Joe Dunthorne is a poet and novelist. His debut novel, Submarine, was translated into fifteen languages and made into an award-winning film, directed by Richard Ayoade. His second novel, Wild Abandon, won the Royal Society of Literature’s Encore Award in 2012. His first work of nonfiction, Children of Radium, is a bestselling, award-winning family memoir, and his other books include the novel The Adulterants and the poetry collection O Positive.
Lauren Elkin is an award-winning writer and translator. She has written several critically acclaimed books, including the novel Scaffolding and the non-fiction books Art Monsters and Flâneuse. Her essays on art, literature, and culture have appeared in the London Review of Books, the New York Times, Granta, Harper’s, Le Monde, Les Inrockuptibles, and Frieze, among others. Her most recent work of non-fiction is Vocal Break: On Women, Music and Power.
Inua Ellams is a Nigerian-born, UK-based poet, playwright and performer who has written for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the BBC. His latest play was an adaptation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters set in Nigeria, staged at the National Theatre. The Actual, his fifth poetry release and first full collection, was published in 2020 by Penned in the Margins. He is an Ambassador of The London Library.
Dominique Heyse-Moore is a writer, artist, and Senior Curator of British Contemporary Art at Tate Britain, where she was Curator of the recent Hurvin Anderson exhibition and is Curator with Edward Enninful of The 90s, opening late September. She is a Trustee of ActionSpace and a Contributing Editor for EE72. She was on The London Library Emerging Writers Programme 21/22.
Nii Ayikwei Parkes is an arts producer, editor, cultural commentator, writer, Chief Executive of Cultureword and the founder of Flipped Eye Publishing. Translated into multiple languages, he has won acclaim as a children’s author, poet, broadcaster and novelist. His books include the novels Tail of the Blue Bird and Azúcar, and two poetry collections, The Makings of You and The Geez.
Daniel Rachel is a former musician-turned-award-winning and bestselling author whose many books include: Isle of Noises: Conversations with Great British Songwriters; Walls Come Tumbling Down: the music & politics of Rock Against Racism, 2 Tone and Red Wedge; Don’t Look Back in Anger: the Rise & Fall of Cool Britannia; and, most recently, This Ain’t Rock ‘n’ Roll: Pop Music, the Swastika and the Third Reich.
Miriam Robinson has worked in the world of books and bookshops for over 15 years. Previously the host of the podcast My Unlived Life, her short fiction has been shortlisted for a Pushcart Prize, the inaugural Pindrop/RA Short Story Prize and the Pat Kavanagh Prize. Corsair published her debut novel, And Notre Dame is Burning, in 2025.
Sathnam Sanghera is the author of multiple bestselling and award-winning works of fiction and non-fiction, including Empireland, which won the British Book Award for Narrative Non-Fiction, and Marriage Material, which was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and his memoir, The Boy with the Topknot, which won the Mind Book of the Year and was a BBC TV film. His latest book, about George Michael, is Tonight the Music Seems So Loud.
Tone is a DJ and broadcaster. Her show, Diaspora Distins on Oroko Radio, showcases talent from the African continent and the global black diaspora, and she has also appeared on Rinse, Foundation FM, Radio 1Xtra, and more. Live, she has played All Points East, Afropunk, No Signal and opened for Kokoroko, Ragz Original, Superjazzclub and more.
Our events programme is presented in partnership with Hakluyt & Company, the global strategic advisory firm for businesses and investors.
This event will take place in person at The London Library. Please see our Event Access Guidelines before you arrive. Doors (and the bar) open at 6.30 pm for a 7 pm start.
Books by the speakers will be available to buy at the event and online from our partner bookshop Hatchards.
This is a standing event but there will be chairs available in the room.
London Library events are subject to Terms & Conditions
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