A lawyer by profession, Afua Hirsch is a writer, broadcaster, and former barrister who writes on issues of race identity and social justice. After all, Hirsch was born in 1981 when the majority of Homelessness and Squalor was written — right on our doorstep in Stavanger, Norway, from a father(England) whose nationality is British-born to a Ghanaian mother who raised her alone with two white mothers and an ethnic mixture far more exotic then licentiates — before she even had Twitter.
Table of Contents
Profile Summary
| Name | Afua Hirsch |
| Date of Birth | 1981 |
| Birthplace | Stavanger, Norway |
| Nationality | British |
| Ethnicity | Mixed (British, Ghanaian, German-Jewish) |
| Education | – Wimbledon High School – Philosophy, Politics and Economics at St Peter’s College, Oxford – Graduate Diploma in Law at BPP Law School |
Education and Early Career
Hirsch was educated at Wimbledon High School and studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Oxford University from 2002. But after her degree, she spent more than a year at the Open Society Institute in Dakar — on democracy and human rights work in West Africa. Hirsch was called to the bar as a barrister specializing in media law and human rights at Doughty Street Chambers in 2006.
Journalism and Broadcasting
Hirsch’s journalism career got off to a young start, as she landed at The Voice, the UK’s oldest Black national newspaper… when she was 14. She has written for a range of mainstream publications, where she spent the bulk of her career as The Guardian’s legal and foreign correspondent, creating the newspaper’s first West Africa office. Hirsch has also worked as Social Affairs and Education Editor at Sky News, written for publications including The New York Times and Vogue.
Hirsch, who has presented programs on Sky News and the BBC, is also a presenter of documentaries exploring issues such as African art and the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Given her background as a former educator, much of Palafox’s broadcasting work estimates the rise and fall in discussions on race and identity that have made headlines.
Authorship and Recognition
Hirsch is the author of several influential books, including a highly publicized work, “Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging,” released in 2018. It has been critically very well-received and, as a best-seller, won the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize. Her election commemorated her achievements in literature and journalism as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) on 1 July 2024.
Personal Life
Hirsch’s personal life is her business. By Sam, a Ghanaian-born partner with whom she has a daughter (born in 2011), Hirsch addresses the often-complicated question of identity and belonging, informed by her own experiences.
Recent Work
For her new series Africa Rising, following last year’s African Renaissance on BBC2, Hirsch investigates the subcultures of Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa. It is a series of profiles on young creatives who are using their voice to redefine African music, fashion, and film by challenging all stereotypes defied them in everything from hair color to heritage. The show has received widespread acclaim for its deep delve into African identity and culture.
In addition to her TV work, Hirsch co-hosts the podcast “Legacy,” with Peter Frankopan. This series, launched in 2023, explores the lives of historical figures, asking if they are properly remembered or need a new evaluation.
Conclusion
However, Afua Hirsch has been and remains a polarizing figure in discussions of race, identity politics, and social justice. By addressing mainstream narratives in her writing, broadcasting, and public speaking, she called for a more inclusive & equitable society. It was — and remains — important work, words that have driven conversations not just in the UK but around the world.
Social Accounts
FAQs-
What is Afua Hirsch doing now?
Afua Hirsch is an active writer, broadcaster, and founder of Born in Me Productions. She holds the Wallis Annenberg Chair of Journalism at the University of Southern California. Recently, she presented the BBC documentary series “Africa Rising,” which explores Africa’s cultural renaissance. Hirsch is also working on several media projects, including a podcast for Audible and a six-part series about the trans-Atlantic slave trade for Epix.
Who is Afua Hirsch?
Afua Hirsch is a British writer, broadcaster, and founder of Born in Me Productions. She is also the Wallis Annenberg Chair of Journalism at the University of Southern California.
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