Foundations of Excellence — Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason

There is perhaps no better person to speak to about Black creative expression and excellence through art than Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason—the matriarch, mother and woman who makes possible the prodigious creativity of the seven Kanneh-Mason siblings. In her book, To Be Young, Gifted and Black , Kadiatu shows that the key to a creatively fulfilling and purposeful life is in how we live in between the highs and the lows—the relationships we nurture, the humour we entertain and in the routines we build that honour and sustain our passions.

Part II of my conversation with Kadiatu continues on Patreon for Regular Listeners: patreon.com/busybeingblack This conversation was recorded at Manngington Book Bash 2025, one of the UK's most cherished literary festivals. If the interiority & craft of authors, writers & artists stir your imagination to whirling, come to Mannington Book Bash 2026 .

Thank you to Henry Layte and the team at the Book Hive . Busy Being Black's theme music was created for the show by Lazarus Lynch and Joshua Pleeter.

The oceanic cellos that open the show were created for Busy Being Black by Dylan Halverson. See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at .