My Year in Review: Here’s Looking At You, 2023.

I don’t know about you but I find it alarming how quickly the years are speeding by. It’s also weird because we’ve been in some kind of time warp since 2020, so it’s almost like three years never happened. Except I’m approaching a milestone birthday next year so, more than ever, I’m determined to make every moment count.

It’s been another year of dizzy highs and devastating lows, culminating in the horrors still unfolding in Gaza after the atrocities of October 7. Words fail me when I think of the number of civilian casualties (estimated at 18,500 and climbing daily) and our government’s resistance to calling for an immediate ceasefire. Then again, almost everything about the current government leaves me aghast. From the gross incompetence (and deadly negligence) revealed in the ongoing Covid enquiry to their desperate attempts to send refugees to Rwanda. 

On a brighter note, this year I published my third book Raising Boys Who Do Better and I got to celebrate with an in-person book launch. This was a major highlight not just of the year but of my life. There was so much love, joy and positivity in the room and I’m fully grateful for everyone who showed up. Read on for some more memorable moments of 2023.

News & Noteworthy

This was the year of: Marching for a Ceasefire. More Partygate revelations. Trump’s mugshot. Barbenheimer. A worrying spate of schoolkid muggings in our neighbourhood. Affirmative Action ended. Phillip Schofield unseated. Lucy Letby unmasked. More grimy revelations about Russell Brand and P. Diddy. The Lionesses. Luis Rubiales and that kiss. Exit Suella (phew), (re)enter David Cameron (wtf). Yes, 2023 was WILD.

It was also the year of Hip hop turning 50. And painful farewells to so many including De La Soul’s Trugoy the Dove, Lisa Marie Presley, Tina Turner, Julian Sands, Sinead O’Connor, Matthew Perry, Benjamin Zephaniah and Andre Braugher.

Book Babies

Releasing my 3rd book baby into the world. Sharing its journey from unboxing, to audiobook recording, to amazing early reviews from the likes of Rob Delaney, Julia Samuel and Jeffrey Boakye. Celebrating publication day with pancakes at Sunday cafe, then an interview by Shay Kaur Grewal on BBC Radio London. Returning for multiple spots on the late show with Sunny and Shay, including their emotional final episode. Listen out for more upcoming appearances on Shay’s afternoon slot in 2024.

Bringing Up Race is still getting lots of love too and it was the October Book of the Month pick at the Bask Book Club event hosted by the lovely Tobi Eyinade. Meanwhile my picture book A World for Me and You continues to enchant readers big and small. I’ve been touched to see the book shortlisted for the St Fagan’s Diversity Picture Book Awards and nominated for Northgate School Book Awards. Exchanging letters with young fans of the book was truly heart-melting.

Live Appearances

2023 was also a big year for live events. I’ve really enjoyed getting to meet readers and inspire listeners at more than 45 public appearances this year, from picture book stalls at Big Fish Little Fish family raves to speaking at men’s prison HMP Dovegate. The latter was outside my comfort zone for sure but I’m so glad I went and it was a really positive event.

Other event highlights: a panel on Raising Boys at Waterstones Gower St with host Elizabeth Moya Morris and fellow guest Kirstie Beaven, editor of the fab Sonshine magazine; speaking at the absolutely wonderful Reasons To Be Cheerful Live festival; an intimate book chat with author Ike Anya at Pitanga Nigerian restaurant; a brilliant conversation around masculinity with popular bookfluencer What Sarah Read Next at AfriCoLab in Hastings; a LinkedIn Live with Elliott Rae of Music Football Fatherhood; an online panel with bestselling authors Eve Rodsky and Sonora Jha; guest speaking at Festival of Education, Black British Book Festival, No More Lost Books, WorkLife Central and more.

Friends & Family

Despite what felt like the longest, wettest summer in recent memory, we managed to have some fun and games around (and outside) town. Some of my favourite playtime moments: a mini break in Nice for my sister-in-law Mira’s 40th birthday. A surprise birthday party for Andi Oliver at the ultra-special Pekes Manor. A day trip to Margate with my sister Nkiru and the boys (although I’m pretty sure that’s how we all caught Covid… yikes). Celebrating author and blogger Natalie Lue’s Baggage Reclaim at 18 on a rooftop in Brixton. Such a blast.

The best times were catchups with longtime friends, like my mate Jolade, and former New York buddies, Frances (a fab actress soon to be seen in the series Fallout) and Brooke (with her OH and their adorable boy).

Movies

Jed and I made two trips to the cinema to see Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse which was hands down my film of the year. Such immersive and empathetic storytelling and the animation was mind-blowing. Of course all anybody talked about was Barbie which I thought was fun but not exactly life-changing. I was more impressed by Oppenheimer, a visual and editing masterpiece that left me feeling all kinds of ways.

On the small screen, Abiye and I saw two documentaries I’ll never forget: The Act of Killing, a gruelling but compelling insight into a genocide and its aftermath; and Blue Bag Life, a deeply personal and emotive tale of addiction and loss. 

TV

As always, I binged more shows than I can remember. As a writer, I count it as research. Highly rated: Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, The Diplomat, Made in Heaven 2, The Buccaneers, Severance, I’m A Virgo, Only Murders in the Building, My Name (K-Drama) and Drops of God, a manga adaptation.

2023 was the year I got into anime thanks to my boys and I’m now a fan. We raced through series like Hunter Hunter, My Hero Academia, Demonslayer, Spy X Family, Haikyuu, Jujutsu Kaisen and Kaguya-sama: Love Is War. My favourite was Attack on Titan which came to a stunning finale after nearly a decade since the manga was released. It’s an astonishing feat of creativity with themes that are so relevant to present day conflicts. 

AOT narrowly missed being my top TV pick of 2023 but that goes to the masterful Succession which is in my top 3 shows of all time. I’m quite bereft now that it’s finished. I was also sad to see the wonderful Ted Lasso come to an end. And I’m gutted that Riches, one of the first UK soaps about a wealthy Black family appears to have been ditched before it’s had a chance to get off the ground. We need another season, asap!

Books

I’ve written a whole post about my books of the year but in short, I devoured Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. Also strong contenders were Sorrow & Bliss by Meg Mason, Yellowface by Rebecca F Kuang, The List by Yomi Adegoke, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus and my friend Ike Anya’s fantastic medical memoir Small By Small.

Arts and Culture

We saw some great shows in 2023. I took Jed to see Romeo and Juliet at the Almeida Theatre starring Toheeb Jimoh (Sam Obisanya in Ted Lasso) and Isis Hainsworth. It was a spectacular production, probably one of the best I’ve seen and I’ve seen several. I also loved The Secret Life of Bees at the Almeida and School Girls at Lyric Hammersmith. Our local book club took an outing to see A Little Life, adapted from Hanai Yanagahira’s worldwide bestseller. It was a brilliant production but seriously emotionally ravaging. I couldn’t wait to escape the theatre afterwards!

Art wise, I enjoyed checking out my friend Ilyas’ exhibitions at Zer Middle East Kitchen. Abiye and I also had an immersive look through the mind’s eye of David Hockney at Lightroom King’s Cross.

In 2023, I got to see some of my dream artists on stage: Burna Boy at his historic Olympic Stadium show and my Afrobeats fave, Rema at O2 Arena. We were back at the O2 a week later to watch Trevor Noah live. Hilarious. I love that man hard. On my sister Nkiru’s birthday, we caught Eliades Ochoa of the Buena Vista Social Club at KOKO in Camden. Pure infectious joy.

Music and Podcasts

According to Spotify, the top 3 artists that saw me through the year were Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Rema. I also liked discovering Joy Oladokun and the mellow magic of Andre 3000’s flute album, talk about a rebrand! On the podcast side of things, I couldn’t get enough of the Succession podcast.

I’ve been featured on a number of podcasts this year too. Tune in to my slots on: The Midpoint with Gabby Logan, Brave New Girl, Writing Around the Kids, The Write and Wrong Podcast, Book Bites and Two Lit Chicks.

2024 Goals

I’ve got my own podcast plans bubbling up. I know, I’ve been hinting at this for years but I think it’s finally time. I’m also playing with some book ideas, thinking about Substack and prepping to launch a new space/service for aspiring writers. if you want to get started on a writing practice or project next year.

Excitingly, my picture book will be spreading its wings — more details soon. It’s also a big year for my eldest who turns 18 and will be heading to uni in September. I don’t get how this happened, wasn’t he just 4 years old yesterday? I’m sure many of you OG readers feel that way too since that’s how old Ezra was when I launched this blog. As Gretchen Rubin said, the days are long but the years are short.

In 2024, I’m turning the big 5-0 and I’m creating a list of 50 things I want to do at 50. I might share it when I’m ready, maybe it will inspire you if you’re also levelling up to an important year. 

My word for 2023 was GIFTS, a call to share my gifts (both material and creative) and also a reminder to live more generously. I already have a word/theme for 2024 but I’ll let you know it in the new year. Keep an eye on my social media for the reveal.

Wishing you a joyful holiday and an incredible year ahead. Here’s looking at you, 2024.