In this solo episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, I share what stood out to me from attending the London Book Fair, especially around publishing, technology, discoverability, and the future of books.

I reflect on the UK government’s controversial AI copyright proposal, the strong pushback from the creative industries, and why this matters so much for writers and anyone building an audience.

I also talk through some of the most interesting ideas I picked up from the fair: why print is still holding strong, why readers are moving back towards more physical and comforting experiences, and why authors now need to think about General Engine Optimization (GEO) and beyond SEO and pay attention to how AI-driven search is changing discoverability.

This is an episode for writers, creatives, and publishing watchers who want to understand where things are going and how to stay visible in a changing landscape.

Episode 13 - Navigating the digitak shift - Insights on writing seo and ai with Abidemi Sanusi

https://talkingtechwithcreatives.com/episode/navigating-the-digital-shift-insights-on-writing-seo-and-ai-with-abidemi-sanusi

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ISSN 2978-8307

Dr Kadija George Sesay has spent decades championing Black writers, preserving overlooked stories, and building Pan-African literary networks that stretch across continents. In this rich conversation, I sit down with her to explore what it really means to decolonise the bookshelf and ensure that our stories are not only published, but preserved for future generations.

Kadija speaks about founding Sable LitMag, curating festivals such as the International Black Speculative Writing Festival, and her extensive work with radical independent presses. She explains how Pan-Africanism operates in practice, why independent publishing and ownership are crucial, and how collective memory and community gatherings help us keep our histories alive.

We also discuss how technology, online platforms, and now AI can support preservation and access without losing the heart of the work. Kadija shares her excitement about her upcoming Fulbright journey to the United States, her ongoing research into Black publishers and Pan-Africanism, and what she hopes future readers and scholars will discover about the Black writing emerging today.

If you care about literature, archives, cultural memory, or how our stories survive in a rapidly changing world, this episode offers a powerful and generous masterclass.

If you enjoyed the episode, consider sharing it with someone who loves books, archives, or Black history.

• LinkedIn:

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kadija-sesay-00323b4/

• Interview on Africa in Words:

  https://africainwords.com/2022/03/23/qa-scholar-activist-kadija-sesay-on-afripoetree/

• Review of the International Black Speculative Writing Festival (Vector Magazine):

  https://vector-bsfa.com/2024/02/27/review-of-the-international-black-speculative-writing-festival-2024/

• About me:

  https://stellaonithewriter.com/about/

• Podcast website:

  https://talkingtechwithcreatives.com/episodes

• Substack:

  https://stellaoni.substack.com/

• YouTube:

  https://www.youtube.com/@TalkingTechWithCreatives

• LinkedIn:

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/stella-oni-065788140/

Thank you for reading and listening. I hope this episode leaves you thinking about your own role in preserving stories, and the ways you can share what you know with the people coming after you.

ISSN 2978-8307

In this episode, I speak with Hamid Ibrahim, creator and production designer of Iwaju, the groundbreaking Afro-futuristic series produced in collaboration between Kugali Media and Disney. We dive into his journey from portrait artist, to Hollywood VFX work on films such as The Lion King, Dumbo and Doctor Dolittle, to building one of the most important African creative IP houses of our time.

Hamid shares the origins of Iwaju, how a BBC interview unexpectedly led Disney to their door, and what it took to build a futuristic Lagos that resonated globally. We talk about African IP, ownership, investment, the realities of raising funds as an African founder, and why authentic stories still matter in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

If you care about African storytelling, animation, technology, creativity or the future of global IP, this conversation offers valuable insight.

Highlights:

• How Kugali Media caught the attention of Disney

• The making of Iwaju and its cultural impact

• African IP as a global asset

• The business realities behind storytelling

• AI and what it can and cannot replace

• Why meaning and authenticity still matter

• Building creative businesses without a roadmap

Guest Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hamidibrahimportfolio

Instagram (Kugali): https://www.instagram.com/kugalimedia

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/hamid-ibrahim-564892a7

Twitter: https://x.com/hamid_portfolio

My Links:

About Stella: https://stellaonithewriter.com/about

Podcast Website: https://talkingtechwithcreatives.com/episodes

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TalkingTechWithCreatives

Substack: https://stellaoni.substack.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stella-oni-065788140

ISSN 2978-8307