Reclaiming by Yewande Biala

Reclaiming begins with Say My Name, an essay on the constant mispronunciation of her beautiful Nigerian name Yewande Biala, and Colourism, a chapter on, as she quotes from the Oxford Dictionary, ‘prejudicial or preferential treatment of same-race people based solely on their colour’. Chapters such as this are perfectly placed: the reader, whether fully aware of UK-based racial issues or not, is knowledgably and immediately brought into that discourse and takes their new understanding into the reading experience with them. This is perfectly done by Biala, whose experiences are so informed by these two issues, and on her essay collection continues in this vein.

Biala’s piercing honesty about social media’s impact on her body image, on her friendships, and on her careers(s) is a refreshing insight, but that is not to say the book is a warning against becoming an influencer. Instead, it feels as though Biala is a sisterly voice on the readers’ shoulder, dishing out empathy and advice, using her own experiences to inform her words. She is not telling you that social media ‘is bad’, but that it’s a bumpy terrain to navigate and that she is here to help.

Reclaiming is a must-read book for not only Gen Z, but for anyone who has ever been on social media; indeed, anyone who lives in a society where racial injustices are still prevalent. So, all of us. The book is divided into nine chapters, dealing with everything from colourism, to mental health, to education and careers. In each, Biala intimately takes the reader through her journey on the theme, but also packs her writing with her own thorough research. The personal, coupled with her supporting investigations, works together to create a voice which is both authentic and authoritative. This is Biala’s first book, and her readers will absolutely hope it’s not her last.

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Coronet, out now, £16.99
hachette.co.uk